This is one film that tries hard but falls short due to the fact that it has been in the wrong genre. ‘Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant’ screams out for the darkness of the ‘Harry Potter’ series of films but in a bid to be kooky and different the producers have completely ruined what could have been a good film, making it a chore for the audience to endure.
The story begins with Darren Shan (Chris Massoglia – ‘The Hole’, ‘A Plumm Summer’) and his friend, Steve (Josh Hutcherson – ‘Journey To The Center Of The Earth’, ‘Winged Creatures’) attend a Freak Show. Darren is obsessed with spiders while Steve yearns to be a vampire. When Steve identifies one of the freaks as vampire, Larten Crepsley (John C.Reilly – ‘9’, ‘Step Brothers’) he decides to ask to be sired by him. But when Crepsley, distracted with a war brewing between vampires like himself (who don’t kill humans) and the blood-thirsty, violent Vampaneze, Crepsley says he won’t turn him. But when Darren is left owing Crepsley he is turned to become his assistant, something that infuriates Steve.
Everything is set up for ‘Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant’ to be a good film, but all the goodness of the story is eradicated by some poor decisions made behind the scenes. This starts with director, Paul Weitz’s (‘American Dreamz’, ‘In Good Company’) decision to try for a kook brand of film. This kookiness stops all elements of drama and tension from the film and results in the finale of the film being turned from a battle royale to pure slapstick. But this decision pails into significance when compared to the awful decision to cast John C. Reilly as the vampire, Crepsley. Not only is it a dreaful performance but he is horribly miscast in a role that called for the darkness of an actor like Alan Rickman (‘Alice In Wonderland’, ‘The Harry Potter Series’).
And the bad casting decisions don’t end there. Salma Hayek (‘Across The Universe’, TV’S ’30 Rock’) is wasted in her role of the Bearded Lady, while the lead, Chris Massoglia is a non-event. He simply brings nothing to the role and is completely forgettable, and as for chemistry with his romantic interest Jessica Carlson (‘The Life Before Her Eyes, ‘Goyta’)… forget about it, it’s non-existant!
‘Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant’ is a nothing film! The kind of film you forget about as soon as the credits roll. Director, Paul Weitz does all he can to get this film up for a sequel but when it’s the bad why you bother? A very poor adaption that deserved better.
Year: 2009
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Chris Massoglia, Josh Hutcherson, John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek, Jessica Carlson
Classification: M
Runtime: 131 mins
Rating:
