Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Nicolas Cage | ... | Balthazar | |
Jay Baruchel | ... | Dave | |
Alfred Molina | ... | Horvath | |
Teresa Palmer | ... | Becky | |
Toby Kebbell | ... | Drake Stone | |
Omar Benson Miller | ... | Bennet | |
Monica Bellucci | ... | Veronica | |
Alice Krige | ... | Morgana | |
Jake Cherry | ... | Young Dave | |
James A. Stephens | ... | Merlin | |
Gregory Woo | ... | Sun-Lok | |
Wai Ching Ho | ... | Chinese Woman | |
Jason R. Moore | ... | Subway Mugger (as Jason Moore) | |
Robert Capron | ... | Young Dave's Pal (as Robert B. Capron) | |
Peyton List | ... | Young Becky (as Peyton Roi List) |
Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina). Balthazar can't do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness. It'll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Written by Walt Disney Pictures
Jay B. is funny and charming in a believably nerdy fashion; Cage is at his quirky but charismatic best; the effects are plentiful and top notch; there's both a tragic love story and a young cute one plus a healthy dose of clever references to Disney's epic Fantasia (from which this film is partially inspired). If you read this list of attributes and it caught your interest and like the idea of centuries old sorcerers doing battle across New York in spectacular fashion then it wont matter what any other review says, you're going to want to check this flick out. It's funny, the cast is likable and there's a freaking dragon tearing up Chinatown (and that isn't even the finale!). On the other hand if all of this made you cringe, well nothing is going to persuade you to see it either. The truth is SORCERER'S APPRENTICE is fairly predictable, and the opening few minutes suffer a great deal from a completely distracting (and not needed) bit of narration but it is also solid matinée fun that I know I (and apparently the theater of folks I saw it with) really enjoyed.