Although it is based on a best-selling series of children’s books, “City of Ember” is unlikely to become the new “Harry Potter” franchise. Dark and fairly grim, this film isn’t interested in magic.
Ember is a city in perpetual night, its electric lights run by a frequently sputtering generator. Nothing exists outside the city limits, although there are rumors of an exit somewhere.
A couple of hundred years ago, city elders put vital information in a time capsule, which recently unlocked itself. Can adolescent heroes Lina (Saoirse Ronan, the “Atonement” Oscar nominee) and Doon (Harry Treadaway) find the capsule and figure it out?
Not much really complicates this storyline. Doon’s father (Tim Robbins) looms around once in a while, and there’s some sinister comedy involving the mayor (Bill Murray), who thrives while the rest of the city is falling apart.
Doon is apprentice to a pipe worker (Martin Landau), although the film can’t figure out how to pay this off properly (and it should be easy).
Director Gil Kenan (“Monster House”) doesn’t really have a knack for grabby dramatic hooks. The film has a dutiful quality, as though it sticks too faithfully to the novel — but movies require a different kind of electricity, and “City of Ember” doesn’t know how to turn it on.
The two leads are appealing enough, and the design of the city (really the film’s star) is impressive. Bill Murray is equally impressive at getting his own personality into every line, without violating the character of the mayor.
The special effects aren’t overbearing, thank goodness. There’s a giant moth that takes the place of Harry Potter’s owl, although the movie is curiously incurious about where such a creature might come from.
And the liveliest sequence requires a digital monster, but he’s a good one: a huge, slavering mole, scampering about in one of the city’s forbidden zones.
A lot of things might be explained in the sequels. But that’s a big problem for Part One of any projected series: It’s always holding something back, because the good stuff is yet to come. In this case, more is required up front to get this series off and running.
“City of Ember”
Weak: Part One of a series of successful children’s books, about a city of perpetual darkness kept running on generators. Saoirse Ronan and Harry Treadaway make capable adolescent heroes, but the film doesn’t work up enough interest to justify looking forward to future installments.
Rated: PG rating is for violence
Now showing: Alderwood, Everett, Galaxy Monroe, Marysville, Pacific Place, Woodinville, Cascade Mall
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