THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE

Generally, I’m not a big Nicolas Cage fan, so I was fully prepared to not like this movie... but you know what? I actually thought it was splashy and boisterous and fun.

Cage stars as Balthazar, a former disciple of the great sorcerer Merlin, who’s spent hundreds of years searching the world for the mysterious child destined to be Merlin’s successor. Turns out, that “child” is Dave (Jay Baruchel), a 20-year-old physics genius and socially awkward student, whom Balthazar must get into magical-fighting shape but quick. See, Balthazar’s longtime enemy and former best friend, a sorcerer named Horvath (Alfred Molina), is intent on wreaking havoc by unleashing evil imprisoned sorceress Morgana (Alice Krige) from an ancient doll so they can conjure up mayhem together, and the only person who can prevent global destruction is, well, Dave.

Complicating matters are Dave’s reluctance and seeming lack of aptitude for magic, coupled with his distracting attraction to his middle-school sweetheart, Becky (Teresa Palmer)... which infuses the film with a nicely realized romantic subplot.

Overflowing with eye-popping digital effects and plenty of action – chase sequences, magic battles and a nod to the animated Fantasia sequence which inspired it -- The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is one of those unapologetic, Jerry Bruckheimer-produced summertime popcorn movies that may not be perfect, but is nonetheless entertaining escapism. Sure, it pads an admittedly thin story with lots of impressive visuals in that appropriately slight-of-hand-ish way, but so what? In a movie about dueling wizards, I’d much rather have lots of time devoted to the dueling instead of a closer examination of everyone’s back story.

Despite yet another tragic hairpiece, Cage manages to turn in a performance for which his trademark cheese and melodrama actually suit the character. Balthazar, like Cage, takes his work a little too seriously on occasion, and that sometimes unintentionally laughable gravitas fits much better here than it has in many of the actor’s more recent duds. (Knowing? Next? I’m looking at you.) Baruchel is lovably bumbling and uncertain and frantic, which makes for a good yin to Cage’s yang.

And while supporting players – including Monica Bellucci in a pointless cameo, and Toby Kebbell as a wonderfully self-absorbed young sorcerer who’s gone all Criss Angel – are good, none are better than the always delightful Molina, whose Horvath is just the kind of cinematic villain audiences love to hate. He’s smart, he’s nasty and he’s wickedly funny. His presence here, as with his turn in Prince of Persia, cranks the enjoyment level up exponentially.

I’m sure plenty of critics will crap all over this movie for all sorts of reasons, and I honestly thought I’d probably be one of them. But, surprisingly, I’m not. Magic? Maybe.