Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events

            This film was as unfortunate as the events depicted.  Jim Carrey was back doing his crazy faces shtick.  I was hopeful that he had moved past this phase when he got more serious in The Majestic (2001) and Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2004).

            This storyline is based on a series of books by Daniel Handler.  I'm not familiar with them, so the film may be true to the books.  Regardless, the repetitious problem events that befell the orphans were boring to watch and didn't seem to go anywhere.  The ingenious solutions that the child protagonists conjured up to save themselves were kind of interesting, but not interesting enough to save the film.

            The plot would be okay for kids in the six to ten age group.  It would be boring to middle schoolers and maybe a little scary for five-year-olds.  It's a step above picture book level, probably chapter book material for kids. 

            It was safe to show on the airplane trip and a good time to take a nap.

            Reviewed April 5, 2005

MPAA: Rated PG for thematic elements, scary situations and brief language.