Drew's

Date Reviewed	2/12/2010
Title	The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Rating
Directed By :	Terry Gilliam
Starring :	Heath Ledger, Colin Farrell, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Verne Troyer, Tom Waits & Andrew Garfield
Review	Only someone from the Monty Python team or Tim Burton would have made this movie. Director Terry Gilliam shares a vague story of colorful wonder as a traveling theater company hits the pavement to provoke curious optimism for its customers. Christopher Plummer has our title role as an ageless man putting on road shows with his squad of three unique employees. Verne Troyer joins the non-stationary circus van as what you’d expect, an amusing midget named Percy. Only this time his character is on the know it all smug side. Verne’s too famous as “Mini Me” to play any other character. This refers to an unnecessary distraction with thoughts of “Austin Powers.” Yes, as an actor, Verne’s ruined. Lily Cole plays the part as Valentina, the Doctor’s daughter. Her angelic face with the delicacy of a princess in training attracts certain viewers to the stage. She has a Christina Ricci thing going on. Andrew Garfield is the performance host Anton who develops an overwhelming fondness for his co-worker. These four attempt to find subjects to enter their realm of mystery for a price. Another distraction is being aware that this is Heath Ledger’s final film before he passed away. His role is Tony, a well dressed man discovered as he about to be executed by rope. The crew brings him aboard much to the chagrin of others. He breaks out of his stoic shell while turning out to be quite the host with the most. After Heath expired during the making of the film, actors Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell all step in to assist his character to completion. One of the features of this carnival oddity is a mirror that enters some other dimension like an adult obstacle course from Willy Wonka. These three substitutes or acting replacements are found inside the mirror’s devilish nucleus. It’s not the usual ring toss or shooting a moving target regarding this type of entertainment. “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” offers its public an opportunity to dance inside of their sinful impulses. It’s the equivalent to delivering a psychological materialistic mind orgasm for those that dare to trip this light fantastic. With distractions like “Mini Me” and the untimely death of Heath Ledger along with an unclear elusive plot, it’s easy to drift off camera without remaining focused. True, the “Doctor” is a visual spectacle that will be enjoyed by the stoniest of stoners. It tickles the eye with dazzling psychedelic effects. Of course it helps the vividness when almost everything else on screen is bleak, dark and smudgy. “The Imaginarium” is more of a lesson about cutting corners or making short term deals for personal benefit without fear of big picture consequence. The eye candy far outweighs the brain candy. Drew's Reviews, copyright 2010, Drewsmoviereviews.com, property of Drew Bean.