86 years ago, stage magician Semprini (Cory Phillips) ran into some financial problems and thus out of desparation stole the brooch of an audience member, Gertrude (Ashton Leigh), who has volunteered to assist him with a trick on stage. What Semprini didn't realize was that Gertrude is a witch, and when he refused to return her brooch, she curses him to live iin some parallel dimension. In the now, teen siblings Jack (Jake Alexander Williams), Olivia (Taylor Bedford) and Charlie (Bryson Robinson) find Semprini's raincoat in their grandmother's (Lisa Fox) attic, a raincoat that makes whoever wears it to turn into Semprini - only on the outside though, the wearer does remain oneself after the transformation. At first, the kids have a little bit of fun with the raincoat, but eventually they get in touch with Semprini, who appears to them merely in puddles, and he asks them to give the raincoat to Gertrude - who interestingly enough doesn't only still live but hasn't aged a day in the last 86 years - so she can lift the curse and he can return the brooch. Now that should be simple enough, if it wasn't for another local witch, Olivia's science teacher Mrs. Weaver (Laura Shatkus), who needs the raincoat for her own nefarious schemes, and who will stop at nothing to get the coat ...

As family movies go, this is actually lots of fun - and sure, its premise is a bit silly, but also pretty inventive and also properly explored. Also, the film doesn't dumb things down for its younger audience or oversimplify things, but takes its younger viewers seriously enough, which in turn also makes it more interesting for grown up viewers. Add to this that the film's well-paced and carried by a relatable cast, and the script's funny enough without ever just going moronic, and you've got yourself pretty enjoyable family entertainment - even if you haven't got a family to watch it with.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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