By Robert Yaniz Jr.

This adaptation of the Margaret Mahy novel fails to cast a compelling spell, despite its charms.

THE HYPE

Thanks to the monster success of franchises like Harry Potter, Twilight and The Hunger Games, every YA franchise under the sun has gotten its chance to make the leap to the silver screen, whether its focus is adolescent witches or the sparkly undead. Now The Changeover, an award-winning 1984 fantasy novel is taking its shot at big-screen success. Taking a more grounded approach to its fantastical elements, this should have been a refreshing change of pace. Alas, the results are, well, frustrating to say the least.

THE STORY

Newcomer Erana James plays Laura Chant — get it? she’s destined for mystical things — whose known to have premonitions warning her when trouble is afoot. Yet, her brother Jacko (Benji Purchase) falls prey to a mysterious man (Timothy Spall), setting Laura off on a quest to connect with new ally Sorensen Carlisle (Nicholas Galitzine) and save her little brother. Can she realize her potential in time? We’re betting you can, like Laura, sense what’s coming. And, chances are, you’ve seen stories just like that many times before.

THE CAST

Although its script is muddled, lacking in a solid pace and rife with unsatisfying turns, The Changeover does have a bit of a saving grace in its cast. James in particular is a more-than-capable lead, anchoring this dour, dramatically inert tale with as much emotion as can muster. Likewise, supporting players Melanie Lynskey and Lucy Lawless shine in limited roles, but the real standout is Spall, who brings Peter Pettigrew levels of menace to his sinister character. If the film works at all in building tension, it’s thanks to him.

THE PRODUCTION

Other than the memorable turns by James and Spall, The Changeover doesn’t offer many other exceptional elements. Its cinematography and music are hoping to capture the sense of hopelessness and melancholy that defines Laura and the transformation she undergoes over the course of the film. However, it instead comes across as bland and derivative, an approach that undercuts the cool ideas inherent in Mahy’s story. Had the material been approached differently, perhaps its promise could have been better realized.

THE VERDICT

Besides its New Zealand setting, The Changeover simply feels indistinguishable from any of the many other YA adaptations that have hit theaters in the past decade or so. The film lacks a clear vision and propulsive narrative thrust, and so the actors have little to do than go through the motions. It’s a real pity because The Changeover might have yielded something special if its themes and mythology had been more thoroughly developed. In its current 95-minute form, The Changeover doesn’t commit to truly making magic.

The Changeover stars Erana James, Timothy Spall, Melanie Lynskey and Nicholas Galitzine and is directed by Miranda Harcourt and Stuart McKenzie.