By reading aloud, Mo Folchart can take characters out of a story and turn them into flesh-and-blood versions of themselves, true to how their creators wrote them.
The problem? He can’t control which character pops into reality and which person in the room is then flung into the book.
After his wife disappeared while he read to their 3-year-old daughter Meggie, he stopped reading aloud. Since then, he’s spent the past nine years trekking to used book shops searching for “Inkheart,” the medieval tale he was reading when his wife vanished.
Two and a half out of five stars
» Starring: Brendan Fraser, Eliza Bennett, Helen Mirren, Paul Bettany and Andy Serkis
» Director: Iain Softley
» Rated PG for fantasy adventure action, some scary moments and brief language
» Running time: 106 minutes
In his hunt for “Inkheart,” he’s tried to stay one step ahead of the villain he read into the world, the cruel Capricorn (played by Andy Serkis, “The Lord of the Rings’ ” freaky Gollum.)
Among stacks of books whispering classic lines to him, Mo (Brandon Fraser, the only American in the cast) finally finds “Inkheart” within the first five minutes of this adventure tale for book lovers.
Meggie, now 12, never knew her father was a silver-tongue until a wild-haired Paul Bettany as Dustfinger, a fire juggler from “Inkheart,” appears and demands Mo read him back into the book. Rejected and angry, Dustfinger leads Capricorn’s thugs to Mo and Meggie, hiding out at their eccentric Aunt Elinor’s grand estate. Capricorn takes the trio hostage to force Mo to read into reality gold coins and everything else he needs to rule not only his castle and village but the world.
If you accept the “rules” of “Inkheart’s” reality as easily as the characters within the fantasy adventure do, you’re in store for a magical, fun-for-the family fantasy crammed with stirring special effects, impeccable British talents, some humorous moments and unabashed declarations of love for books. A ticking crocodile, winged monkeys and white unicorn are among the many whimsical nods to our favorite stories.
But “Inkheart’s” flaws become almost insurmountable when we’re heading into the final chapter. That’s when the overly complex plot loses its gusto and spins out of control, and you find yourself more vested in getting a free refill on your giant popcorn bag than Meggie living or dying.
That said, compared to most of the swill that’s peddled to families, this is much more imaginative and entertaining. You might not cry at the final showdown, but it’s a sight to see.
Pulitzer-winner David Lindsay-Abaire wrote the script for “Inkheart” based on German author Cornelia Funke’s 2003 novel of the same name — the first of a successful trilogy. Screenplays for “Inkheart” sequels are already written and will most likely find their way to the silver screen if “Inkheart” does well.
