Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Jay Baruchel’s performance is one that had me strapped into my seat belt, but I still enjoyed the roller-coaster ride.
Inspired by Disney’s 1940 film Fantasia, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is an action-packed fantastic adventure created by Jon Turteltaub. We are introduced to a mere Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), whose comical attitude is needed pre-9/11 and is referenced when he draws a picture of King Kong on the bus window overlapping The Empire State Building, much to Becky’s amusement as both share a heartfelt smile.
Set in 2000 amidst sunny, modern day Manhattan, Dave is a ten-year-old student who makes suave attempts to impress his childhood crush Becky (Teresa Palmer). Partnered by the sound of “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World, this creates an atmospheric feel and introduces us to the relationship that would occur between the two characters.
After straying away from his class on his school field trip, he has a heart-palpitating encounter with Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage), a sarcastically grumpy, leather-jacket-wearing wizard and mentor who eventually befriends Dave.
Fast-forward ten years and we meet Dave’s older self, now a physics student at New York University. Conveniently he is in the same course and class with Becky, who also conveniently remembers him too.
A rather predictable screenplay on Disney’s part now that I reminisce, (not that my ten-year-old self paid attention to it).
Dave still feels the same towards Becky and wants act on these long-lasting feelings. He repairs the transmitting mast of the radio station she works at after it is struck by lightning. He eventually becomes romantically involved with Becky against Balthazar’s wishes and advice, impressing her by playing the One Republic song “Secrets” with the Tesla coils he has been experimenting with. Despite Balthazar’s disdain of his relationship with Becky, Dave convinces to him to be allowed on a date with her.
Dave tries to use magic to clean his lab as he doesn’t have enough time to do it himself, but loses control of his animated cleaning mops forcing him to cancel his date with Becky. He is saved because of Balthazar’s intervention and, disillusioned, decides to give up on magic, until Becky unknowingly changes his mind.
Eventually, in Battery Park, Morgana shoots plasma bolts at the three and overwhelming Balthazar, kills him. Dave attempts to stop Morgana without his ring and succeeds, proving that he is the Prime Merlinean – the heir to the throne.
Dave makes another larger Tesla coil out of the square’s lampposts and power lines to overwhelm her and fires a plasma barrage, which finally destroys Morgana (one of the film’s villains).
He revives Balthazar by restarting his heart with plasma shocks. Dave and Becky kiss and fly to France for breakfast on Balthazar’s eagle. This keeps the scene dark but humorous for Disney audiences.
Finding out Jerry Bruckheimer produced this film was no surprise to me. His credits within the action-fantasy-adventure world are highly impressive including National Treasure Pirates of the Caribbean, Bad Boys, Remember The Titans and the list goes on.
However, I feel here, he has managed to shine and completely capture audience’s attention in creating a spectacular genre-fluid film, leaving you rooting for yet another action sequence and pulling at the heartstrings with ease, further brought to life by incredible usage of the One Republic song “Secrets”.
By Zach Omitowoju
Feature image: Empire