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STARDUST (2007) * *1/2
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Starring Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Sienna Miller, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Peter O'Toole, Melanie Hill, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Kate Magowan Paramount/Rated PG-13/Fantasy/130 min
Sometimes fanciful folderol, other times, simply dull, "Stardust" delivers a plethora of daft characters. Lamia, played by bright-eyed Michelle Pfeiffer, single-handedly saves the film from drooling away the last remnants of its smarts. Incapable of appearing stupid, Pfeiffer's gears visibly spin in the role of a witch plotting to regain youth for herself and her two decrepit sisters.
This miracle can only be accomplished by consuming the heart of a fallen star -- as in a heavenly star (else wise a trip to Hollywood would surely do the trick). Such a commodity is a rare prize, but one happens to be available because a celestial body has recently fallen to earth where it has been transformed into human girl, Yvaine (Claire Danes).
Portrayed with a degree of crankiness reflecting her frustration with human beings, Yvaine wears a royal necklace that will determine Stormhold's future ruler. Stormhold's throne is being contested by the three sons left of an original seven, each keen to assume the mantel of recently deceased monarch (Peter O'Toole). During the king's hilarious deathbed scene, he proudly recounts killing his own 12 brothers to gain the throne. So, it is with obvious glee that the king encourages his sons to push tardy Prince Secundus (Rupert Everett) off a cliff-top balcony.
Meanwhile, platinum blonde beauty, Yvaine, knocked unconscious by her heavenly fall, is discovered by Tristan (Charlie Cox), a naive, but sweet-natured youth. Tristan's quest to prove his love to Victoria (Sienna Miller), and complete his pledge to bring her a fallen star, is the most benign of the intrigues surrounding Yvaine. A resident of Stormhold's neighboring, non-magical village, Tristan believes that presenting Yvaine to Victoria will win him her hand in marriage. However, Victoria is a selfish young maiden using Tristan for her own amusement.
Ignorant of her nefarious pursuers, Yvaine bitterly complains about the long walk to Tristan's village, all the while dispensing advice on romance. Because stars are fascinated with human love, Yvaine can Victoria is unworthy of Tristan, but Yvaine is unable to make Tristan see the light.
The three parallel stories: Lamia's attempts to restore her beauty by harvesting Yvaine's heart, the race to recover the necklace by the princes whose murdered, quibbling brothers are now ghosts shadowing their competition, and Tristan's determination to bring Yvaine back to his village, take some unexpected turns.
Much needed humor arises from three of the smaller characters. Robert De Niro stuffs himself into a cancan-dancer's corset as cross-dressing, Captain Shakespeare, Ricky Gervais appears as shady, not-too-bright Ferdy the Fence, and Melanie Hill contributes atmosphere and a sense of menace as gypsy spell caster, Ditchwater Sal.
Beset Lamia, whose beauty is temporarily restored by the last gasp of a long ago fallen star, becomes increasingly, and comically decrepit with each magic bit she performs. Liver spots appear on formerly smooth skin that grows hideously wrinkled, while bald patches invade her once glorious tresses. The princes (dead ones excepted), Captain Shakespeare and Tristan, are all sad sacks reflecting a shocking decline in what passes for fairytale manhood. Initially displaying some sense, Yvaine eventually falls for Tristan, though he's barely one notch above a boy-toy. "Stardust," a fairytale aspiring to an adult audience, deserves dashing heroes at least as bright as its villains. Alas, we laugh with O'Toole's king and Pfeiffer's witch, but can only laugh at everyone else. read more
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MOVIE PREVIEWS - By Lisa Miller via KXOradio.com
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