The first 30 minutes of “Cirque de Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant,” based on the best-selling young adult novels by Darren Shan, has a light tone and a sense of playfulness. If the film had stayed there, it would have been more enjoyable. Unfortunately, most of the film rehashes the been-there-seen-that battle of the vampires and “The Vampire’s Assistant” offers nothing new. Darren (Chris Massolgia) and his best friend Steve (Josh Hutcherson) are high school misfits. While playing hooky one day, they see a flyer for a freak show and decide to check it out. In an old dilapidated theater, they are entertained by various freaks such as a wolfman, a woman (Jane Krakowski) whose limbs grow back if they’re cut off, the bearded lady (Salma Hayek), a giant, Mr. Tall (Ken Watanabe) and Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly), a vampire who owns a multi-colored spider named Octa. The spider-obsessed Darren steals Octa, which bites Steve and puts him in a coma. To get the antidote, Darren agrees to become a half-vampire and serve as Crepsley’s assistant. Steve, however, who has long dreamed of becoming a vampire and now hates Darren, joins the group of ‘bad’ vampires.
All of the characters are introduced quickly without much development. Because the movie is based on a series of books, I assume that director/co-writer Paul Weitz plans more development in future episodes. But that doesn’t help this one. And the central actor, Chris Massolgia, is not strong enough to keep the audience engaged. Oh, John C. Reilly is good as Crepsley, but that’s not enough. Perhaps if we had a stronger story, “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” might have been more compelling. Maybe that’s what happens in chapter 2, but we’ll probably never know. 10/23/09
5 comments:
Prior to it's release, "The Vampire's Assistant" held great interest for me. I thought it was a "vampire" movie but I was wrong. There were:
1. no fangs
2. no blood
3. no bats
4. no stakes through the heart
There were:
1. good vampires (and bad ones)
2. little biting gremlins
3. a beautiful woman with a beard
4. a fat vampire (a 1st for me)
With all that said don't bother to go see it, I've given all the highlights (lowlights) above...............
This was based off a young adults book so don't suspect much second the movie was great and will be watching the sequal to this it was funny as well. just because there are no bats, steaks through the heart doesn't mean its a bad movie and it did have blood as the anonymous guy has falsely written. The movie is good out of a 1-5 rating i would give it a 5 and would watch this movie again. Also to mention the Title is "The Vampires Assistant" not vampire hunter or w/e.
ok for one This movie is based off the book its going to go off from the book. #2 bats are Bullshit as he says in the movie #3 there was blood you obviously didn't watch the movie but only previews.
This movie was a great movie and would watch it again and will be seeing the sequel to this.
for the guy thinking this was going to be a vampire movie do some research so that you don't look like an idiot trying to blog about a movie based on a book that you don't even know exists.
here is his false prediction on this movie.
1. no fang "wrong" Bad vampire had fangs but more then enough of them
2. no blood "wrong again" Finger tips of boy had blood as well they were drinking blood from cups.
3. no bats "now really WTH" as the guy said in the movie That's Bullshit.
4. no stakes through the heart "semi right" Although a Knife can be considered a steak and was through the heart.
Reply to "Cirque du Freak: Vampire's Assistant" fan. If this movie was all that great than why did it make so little money at the box office? Why did so few people go to see it? And why did all the critics pan this movie? Mainly because it was NOT a good film! Read Rotten Tomatoes and some of the other sites and you will see some opinions of what a really poor movie this was!!
To Anonymous Cirque du Freak fan:
Your movie made $13,869,515.00; It cost $40,000,000 to make it! That means it lost over $26 million for the producers. There will be no sequel I assure you!!
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