Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

After two best friends—good kid Darren (Chris Massoglia) and troublemaker Steve (Josh Hutcherson)—sneak out to visit a travelling freak show, their lives are forever changed. Before the credits roll, the pair will join the nocturnal world of vampires and face off as enemies of opposing factions within the bloodsucker culture: those who live without killing humans and those who embrace the feral instincts of their predatory past. Based on the first three books in the young adult series by Darren Shan, director Paul Weitz's Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant is a misfire on most levels. Massoglia is a wet blanket of a young hero, although Hutcherson at least brings a little moxie to the underwritten character of best friend turned mortal enemy. But John C. Reilly is the show stealer here as world-weary vampire Crepsley, playing the sardonic and sarcastic dialogue with a mix of deadpan apathy and reluctant heroism. Unfortunately, almost everything else in the film—from the colorfully generic circus folk to Darren's resistance to embracing his new identity—is window dressing, regardless of the presence of Salma Hayek, Ray Stevenson, Patrick Fugit, Ken Watanabe, and Willem Dafoe as flamboyantly odd figures in elaborate make-up. An optional purchase, at best. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “Guide to Becoming a Vampire” featurette (20 min.), a “Tour du Freak” featurette (18 min.), deleted scenes (11 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a picture-in-picture commentary track with writer-director Paul Weitz and various cast and crew members, more deleted scenes (16 min.), and the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing film.] (S. Axmaker)