The reviews lean towards an enjoyable but uneven fantasy, with praise centred on its charm, playful storytelling and cast. Michelle Pfeiffer draws the most consistent approval, bringing comic resourcefulness and menace to the witch Lamia. Robert De Niro’s playful performance also has admirers, while the supporting cast helps sustain the humour. Critics respond to the film’s imagination and adventurous spirit, even when they find the storytelling untidy.
Reservations cluster around an overstuffed plot and an uncertain balance between comedy, romance and enchantment. Some find the humour part of the pleasure; others think it weakens the fantasy or simply falls flat. The spread runs from qualified approval to considerable enthusiasm, with no wholly negative assessment. Den of Geek is the most enthusiastic, praising the humour and family appeal, while Slant Magazine finds the adaptation competent but uninspired, burdened by spectacle and plot holes.
