Let’s face it – no matter how well executed a modern day wiz-kid magic flick may be, it’s more than likely going to come off as a
Harry Potter knock-off. It may pale in comparison, or it may not. It could be about Greek Gods, like
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (2010
). Or it could be about ancient Merlin magiks, as Disney’s latest
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice appears to be. It really doesn’t matter. As long as there’s a youth called to action against mystical creatures and powerful enchanted beings,
Harry Potter is going to be the first thing to come to mind… and probably for some time.
To its credit,
Apprentice is a different enough film. Its hero, Dave (Jay Baruchel), is a college kid; a science nerd with Merlin in his blood. And his mentor is a nutty eternal played by Nicolas Cage. There are no wizard beards or secret fantastical realms. Disney’s latest flick is as grounded in the familiar as it possibly can be, even opting to view magic through Arthur Clarke goggles – as a scientific presence in our everyday life.
