The Sorcerer's Apprentice

When we got in the car and I asked Ricky how he liked The Sorcerer's Apprentice, he thought for a moment before giving it a loud, animated "AAAW-AAW-AW-AWESOME!" I think that in this case, he can safely speak for young audiences everywhere. After all, it is brought to you by the magical people at Disney, and they know their target audience. Your kids will be at the edge of their seat. The only thing I noticed was that during the scenes where Dave Stutler (the apprentice) was attempting to develop a relationship with his childhood crush, my 10-year-old boy's attention waned just a bit.

Initially, I had some reservations about the casting of Jay Baruchel as Nicolas Cage's reluctant Sorcerer's Apprentice. I'm not sure why. His appearance and voice scream "underdog," so I should not have been surprised. I suppose I was wondering if he had enough "hero" in him to pull off this role.

Pleasantly surprised, I was (when you see the movie, you will understand this obvious reference -- I won't give anything away!). He was extremely convincing as the geeky physics student, who found a way to utilize his own knowledge with the skills that he learns as an apprentice sorcerer.

Nicolas Cage was in his element as Balthazar, the master sorcerer trained by Merlin, himself. In the trailer, Baruchel's Dave asks him "Are you insane?" Balthazar contemplates for a moment and admits that perhaps, just a little bit. The perfect character for Cage, who so brilliantly plays characters who's mental stability is in question.

If you are one who becomes cynical of the use of CGI special effects, avoid this film. If you are someone who embraces the excitement of the visual thrill ride this technology has given the movie industry, buy your ticket today. The car chase alone will have you on the edge of your seat.

I can't help but wonder if those cynics fail to realize that what we are watching is an ongoing battle between sorcerers. They can make anything happen, people! Why not make it as exciting as possible?

The homage to Micky's apprentice in Fantasia is humorous and enjoyable. However, even if your child is unaware of the musical version, s/he will still be delighted by the scene.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice delivers exactly what it promises, no more, no less. A fun, fast-paced family film that will have the kids bouncing on their seats and please parents as well. I'm going to give it 4 popcorns...with a dash of extra butter.