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Anyone who loves to read as much as I do can tell you about the power of the written word: the power to make you laugh, to make you cry, to take you to faraway worlds without even having to leave the comfort of your favorite comfy chair. But in the world of Inkheart, the written word has even more power—or at least it does when read by a man known as Silvertongue.
Years ago, Mo Folchart (Brendan Fraser) discovered that he has a rare gift: when he reads aloud, he makes the words come to life. But he hasn’t read aloud in ages—not since the night when he accidentally brought several characters to life, sending his wife, Resa (Sienna Guillory), into the book in their place.
Now, the heartbroken book doctor travels the world with his daughter, Meggie (Eliza Bennett), searching for a copy of the book, hoping to bring his wife back. But the book’s impossible to find—because the cowardly villain Capricorn (Andy Serkis) likes his new life on Earth, and he’ll do anything to stay.
When Mo and Meggie are brought to Capricorn’s castle, Mo realizes just how important it is to find the book. So, with the help of a fire juggler named Dustfinger (Paul Bettany) who’s desperate to return to the book—and to his wife and family—Mo sets off in search of the book’s author.
For bookworms and wordsmiths alike, Inkheart (which is based on the book by Cornelia Funke) is an enchanting tribute to the written word. It’s smart and thrilling, and it’s peppered with all kinds of little literary references that are sure to keep bibliophiles on their toes.
Visually, Inkheart is breathtaking. It’s filled with gorgeous fairy tale settings—from tiny European mountainside villages to dusty old bookstores to Capricorn’s extravagant castle. The cast, too, is delightful. In addition to Serkis and Bettany, you’ll also find Helen Mirren as Resa’s book-loving great-aunt and Jim Broadbent as the author who gets to meet his characters face-to-face. And (to my great relief) Fraser shows some restraint—and his performance isn’t nearly as goofy and over-the-top as I’d feared it would be.
As for the story, it’s quite intricate—and even the slightest bit complex. But, fortunately, the numerous subplots don’t really feel confusing. Instead, they help to keep things moving at a brisk pace. This isn’t a sleepy fairy tale; it’s a quick and clever adventure. Around every corner, there’s another challenge—another obstacle to overcome or another one of Capricorn’s henchmen to outrun. As a result, it’s often dark and scary—with huge, shadowy monsters and a few freakish characters. So although it’s a family movie, you might want to leave the youngest family members at home—or risk the subsequent nightmares.
If you’ve ever gotten lost in a good book, you’re likely to get lost in Inkheart, too. It’s a magical and imaginative adventure that no bookworm should miss.
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