Review: The House Of Magic 3D (2013)

With films like Fly Me To The Moon and A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures already under it’s belt, Belgium’s nuWave Pictures makes its best film yet with The House Of Magic, a 3D animated adventure that boasts dazzling visual flourishes and character creations, but not much else. When indoor cat Thunder (Murray Blue) is abandoned, he seeks shelter in a mysterious house owned by an old magician (Doug Stone) and his wacky playmates. However, when Lawrence his hospitalised, Thunder’s newfound life hangs in the balance. Directed by Ben Stassen and Jeremy Degruson, The House Of Magic is perfect fodder for children. The characters are full of intrigue and the visuals are inventive, with the 3D even proving a worthwhile addition during many of the films action sequences. There’s little humour, however, and the film does wear considerably thin towards the end because of a thin script, despite some well-intended messages of friendship and trust. But if its kid-friendly thrills and wacky automatons are enough, then The House Of Magic is a diverting bag of tricks.