Watched this earlier this week, and after reading reviews all over the board, I'm not sure what there isn't to like about this flick. "Adventures of Rufus: The Fantastic Pet" is a GREAT deal of fun, has a lot of heart, and is appropriate and has something for all ages. In this day and age, that's rare; all the movies aimed at families are either TOO edgy or TOO kid friendly. This film lands in the sweet spot in the middle. It reminds me a lot of the Disney Channel Original Movies I watched growing up... "Halloweentown" comes to mind. Totally appropriate for all ages, but peppered with reasons to keep parents watching.
A furry creature named Rufus from another world becomes trapped in the attic of an old woman's mansion on Earth after he and his master, the wizard Abbott (Cory Phillips), are separated during a scuffle with Abbott's nemesis, the sorceress Lilith (Leah N.H. Philpott), who also becomes trapped on Earth as a result of the fight. Two years later, the old woman's grandson Scott (Kyler Charles Beck) comes to visit the mansion, where Rufus has been hiding since that fateful night and Lilith now works as the maid of the house. Scott and his friend Emily (Madelyn Kientz) soon begin to uncover Rufus and the secrets of the mansion, and enter a race against time to find Abbott and rescue Rufus's world before Lilith gains control. The whole thing is bookended by a cute Princess Bride-esque wraparound.
The cast in this flick is great. Young audiences will have no problem connecting with Scott and Emily, both likable tweens played well by Beck and Kientz. Rufus is equal parts sweet and courageous, apparently voiced by the film's director - Ryan Bellgardt, and Cory Phillips has the perfect amount of over-the-top charisma as the often humorously confused, but noble Abbott. The adults in the family will undoubtedly appreciate the deliciously evil and funny standout performance from Leah N.H. Philpott as Lilith the most. She is supported by her goons played by Topher Owen and Nicholas Simon, who feel like they were pulled from one of the hilarious early Ernest movies, or another 90s screwball comedy. If anything, I would've like more of Lilith and her goons in this movie. They all have great chemistry on screen.
The movie is captured well and looks and sounds great. The heroes encounter a good number of CG monsters that stand in their way, including a giant t-rex skeleton that comes to life and a dragon the kids will love. The film pays homage to a number of big titles including Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, which audiences of all ages will enjoy. The fantastic score by David Stone Hamilton moves the film along nicely and is also full of references and homage to other properties.
The negatives are few and far between, as far as I can see. While the CG monsters are solid for the most part, they do have a few imperfect moments, and the actress playing the grandmother leaves a little to be desired at times. But that's it, and its a small price to pay for a family-friendly film that is enjoyable for all. Like I said at the top of this review, movies like this are a dying breed. We NEED more movies like this. Without spoiling the film too much, it's definitely left open for an "Adventures of Rufus 2," and we can't wait to see what happens next.
