Film Reviews

The Chronicles of Narnia: Dawn Treader

• Rating:
• Director: Michael Apted
• Starring: Ben Barnes
• Details: US/112mins PG

Whatever way you want to dress it up, there wouldn't be any Narnia films without the success of both the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises. It's fitting, then, that the series thus far has felt like the 'own brand' version of those films - ostensibly similar, but just missing something truly stellar to set it apart. While 'Prince Caspian' introduced us to the downright dashing Ben Barnes and was an enjoyable enough romp, here the attempted expansion of his character and that of the kids falls flat on its face. That said there's still an old fashioned charm about the whole thing.
Soon after we meet our heroes again, the two younger members of the Pevensie family, Lucy and Edmond, are back in Narnia, along with their annoying cousin, Eustace. It's a changed place, for the better - with mostly peace throughout the land - but Caspian is still searching for his father, so the group board his boat, The Dawn Treader, and set sail towards the edge of the earth. Along the way, they find adventure and adversity in equal measure, as their deepest fears are realised and their resolve tested.
There's something very Sunday matinee about this third visit to Narnia, and bringing in veteran British director Apted was a smart move in many respects. More known for his character driven work, he brings a bit more authenticity to the characters and performances. That said, there is still some pretty woeful acting, mostly from the two young leads. Cast very young, they might suit more contemporary material in future, but their work here won't scream "future star" to casting agents.
Newcomer to the series, Will Poulter, is far more successful. Starting out as the comic relief, he is initially grating, which would seem to be the point. But Eustace actually grows, and the final scene in particular is affecting mainly because of his humbled delivery. He is one of the few characters to go on a journey, and the youngster shows surprising range in the process. Chaplin has definite charisma, and despite an inexplicable accent change from the second film, is solid in a fairly pointless role.
There's no doubting this is shaky stuff. But while Potter fans have grown up with their franchise, Narnia has seemingly stayed in playschool. Pre-teens will enjoy all the old school swashbuckling, but there are better films aimed at kids more deserving of your multiplex money.

Review by Mike Sheridan