Stardust

Rupert Everett makes a two-minute appearance it helps that Vaughn and Everett have a common friend in Madonna; De Niro mocks his tough-men roles as one of the numerous characters; Ian McKellen is the narrator; Sienna Miller better known as Jude Law8217;s estranged half agrees to look pretty; Claire Danes is simply luminous; and Michelle Pfeiffer ends her long hiatus 8212; Stardust8217;s stars aren8217;t just the heavenly kind.

However, in this case, most of what glitters is gold. Vaughn efficiently steers his impressive cast through a magical world that is both fetching and uncomplicated. Based on a Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, the film8217;s imagination is rich but it is not a show meant to dazzle the audiences. The magic kingdom that lies on the other side of a forbidden wall is a plausible world with its share of bad, good and simply incompetent people. More importantly, the movie would like you to believe, this kingdom is easily accessible to anyone daring to make that crossover.

While the story involves hunt for a 8220;fallen star8221;, by brothers feuding over a kingdom and witches looking for eternal youth, it focuses on mainly two characters and it gently steers them towards true love, hinting that it is the greatest magic of all.

If the big names serve Vaughn well, the surprise is Charlie Cox in the main role of Tristan Thorn. As a doomed lover determined to win over the village beauty Miller, he is earnest and gullible. But as he slowly falls in love with the fallen star Yvaine Danes that he is chasing, he transforms into a handsome and sure man.

While De Niro as famous pirate Captain Shakespeare Shake spear 8212; his ship flies through the air capturing lightning and other heavenly treasures 8212; and Pfeiffer as the witch Lamia are enjoyable, Stardust belongs to Cox and Danes. Their romance is tender and sweet, shorn of denials or declarations, and the two manage to pull that off without it getting all too mushy.

But where Vaughn marshalls the film confidently for the most part, he stumbles in wrapping it up. By the time Stardust ends, and Lamia has cast yet another spell 8212; adding layers of wrinkles to her 400-year-young skin 8212; the magic is almost wearing off. But, just almost.