Old-school magic meets the modern world when young Alex stumbles upon the mythical sword Excalibur. He soon joins forces with a band of knights and the legendary wizard Merlin when the wicked enchantress Morgana threatens the future of mankind.
As a re-telling of the tale of King Arthur and Camelot, sadly, this formulaic feature contains very few surprises. For a narrative as oft-told as the King Arthur legend, saddling up that horse again can be a treacherous proposition. Writer and director Joe Cornish, coming off the success of the “Ant-Man” screenplay, tries to inject humor and a sense of wonder into the mix, but triumphs only haphazardly.
That’s not to say “The Kid Who Would Be King” is not entirely without merit. Themes dealing with current societal and environmental issues that younger generations must address provide an interesting backdrop for commentary. Perhaps further developing these notions might have given audiences more to chew on.
Key members of the supporting cast certainly make the outing worthwhile. Angus Imrie as Young Merlin offers a superb performance. At no time does he wear out his welcome, particularly when he hams it up as a “fellow student” in a uniform two sizes too small at the prep school where the story takes place. Rhianna Dorris as Kaye also brings freshness and verve to the production. She provides an empathetic presence that contrasts sharply with overly strident Lance, played by Tom Taylor. In addition, Patrick Stewart as Merlin lends an air of gravitas and wisdom to the matters at hand. Other performances, including Alex, the lead played by Louis Ashbourne Serkis (son of Andy), prove suitably serviceable at best.
Since most of us already know the backstory, the setup moves ponderously, with little to show for the updated rehash. Too much is made of the bullying by Kaye and Lance, for example. Their petty behavior becomes tedious, devouring huge chunks of screen time. The evil Morgana, played by Rebecca Ferguson, spends what seems like an eternity wriggling out from the roots of the entombed vegetation that bind her. The unremarkable mystery about Alex’s absent father concealed by his mother comes off trifling as well. More than a little overlong, with uneven sprinkles of humor, the film ultimately falls well short of its potential.
In theaters Friday, January 25th
