Stardust - A classic modern fairytale

There’s really little I can find that is negative about ‘Stardust.’ For what it is, it’s possibly as perfect as a film could be.  It’s a fairytale – pure and simple.  It has everything you’d probably expect to see in a ‘classic Disney’ cartoon – dashing princes, beautiful princesses, evil witches and more magic than you could shake a wand at.  There really is nothing new regarding the plot.  If you’ve seen one fairytale then, technically, you’ve seen this story and nothing will come as much of a surprise when it comes to the plot.  However, ‘Stardust’ isn’t your average fairytale.

If you check out the tagline on the marketing, you’ll see it says something like, ‘The fairytale that won’t behave.’ I can see where they’re coming from.  It’s a cheeky little number that accomplishes what few films can – it’s very watchable for both adults and children.  Kids will love the simple ‘boy meets girl’ story.  Characters are very easily identifiable as either ‘good’ or ‘evil.’ But the film’s really bonus is its much darker undertones.  There are simply dozens of visual and scripted gags which will probably go way over children’s head and be picked up by adults.

But, it’s not just the script that’s fun – every cast member is a recognisable face in their own right.  Whether it’s the narrator – Sir Ian McKellen, or the dodgy seller of lightning in a bottle (and other magical goods), Ricky Gervais.  Naturally, the film likes to highlight its two ‘trump cards’ – none other than Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert DeNiro.  Of course they turn in as excellent performances as you’d expect (I won’t go into DeNiro’s performance for fear of spoiling it for people who don’t know what he gets up to on board his flying lightning-harvesting ship when his crew aren’t watching and Pfeiffer smoulders as the evil witch, ruthlessly hunting our young couple).  But it’s the film’s two leads that really have to carry the film.  Clare Danes is more recognisable than her heroic counterpart, Charlie Cox, but their chemistry is just perfect.

All in all, you’ll be guaranteed a good time with this film whether you’re young or old.  You’ll have to have a heart of stone not to be enchanted by its simple tale of princes and princesses, told to perfection for a modern audience.

And, is it just me, or is the soundtrack one of the most uplifting ever in recent times?

10/10 The Monty Python Knights of Camelot are currently looking for this