Rated: PG

Release Date: 07/14/2010

Production Company: Walt Disney Pictures

Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Omar Benson Miller, Nicolas Cage, Teresa Palmer, Toby Kebbell, Alfred Molina and Monica Bellucci.

Director: Jon Turteltaub. Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer. Executive Producers: Nicolas Cage, Todd Garner, Norman Golightly, Ben Haber, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, Brigham Taylor and Barry H. Waldman. Screenwriters: Lawrence Konner (Screenplay and story), Mark Rosenthal (Screenplay and story), Matt Lopez (Screenplay and story), Doug Miro (Screenplay) and Carlo Bernard (Screenplay) Cinematographer: Bojan Bazelli.

By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer adds a daring and dazzling new spin to the Walt Disney classic, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." This magical and frenetic thrill ride for kids marks the seventh collaboration between Bruckheimer and the film's star, Nicolas Cage.

In "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" Cage plays Balthazar Blake, a disciple of the legendary sorcerer, Merlin. Balthazar is on a mission to find and train a protégé who can quickly learn and master the art of magic so they can both help save New York from his nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina) and his followers.

As the story goes, the grudge between Maxim and Balthazar dates back more than a thousand years. At the time, Maxim and Balthazar were vying for the affections of sister disciple Veronica (Monica Bellucci). Balthazar was the lucky one who made a love connection with her. Maxim was left in the cold.

Seeking payback for being dumped, Maxim teamed with the villainous sorceress Morgana (Alice Krige) to inflict as much damage on Balthazar and most anything else that stands in their way.

Fortunately, for Balthazar, help comes in the unlikeliest form of a nerdy New York physics student named Dave Butler (Jay Baruchel). When they first meet--in the most unlikeliest way--Dave has no idea what Balthazar is up to. All he knows is that their chance encounter didn't help him land Becky Barnes (Teresa Palmer). She's been the girl of his dreams since elementary school. It's 10 years later and Dave's just as clumsy and awkward now around Becky as he was back then.

But when Balthazar recruits and schools Dave about the persuasive powers and the science of magic, it unlocks his hidden potential as a sorcerer in the making and gives him a slight edge with Becky. Most importantly, Dave and Balthazar become a dynamic duo as they attempt to root out Maxim's evil forces.

Though much of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," is a bit top heavy and filled with some mind-numbing special effects, the movie works largely because of the chemistry between Baruchel and Cage. And while Cage's performance is just typical Cage, it's Baruchel who gives the film its needed spark and punch.

Baruchel, has come into his own since starring in movies such as "Knocked Up," "She's out of My League" and most recently lending his voice to the blockbuster hit, "How to Train Your Dragon."

Here he's funny, endearing and charming. Baruchel also has one of the best scenes in the movie. When he's trying to prepare his house for a visit from Becky, he uses his newly vested magical powers and re-enacts the famous "Fantasia" Mickey Mouse brooms and water pails clean-up sequence.

Bruckheimer and Cage have been on a roll at the box office. Their magical streak should continue with "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."