Based on the well-known fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman, Stardust had all the promise to be one of those under-the-radar films that would embed itself into our conscience and become a modern-day classic fairy-tale. Early buzz on the film had it compared with The Princess Bride so, naturally, expectations were high. Backed with star-power like Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Claire Danes, throw-back special-effects (not too much CGI), and an enchanting story, how could it miss? Well, it does and in a big way.

There’s a lot going on in Stardust but it does not overwhelm, a whimsical story of a young man, Tristan Thorne (Charlie Cox), who leaves his quaint, cozy village of Wall to enter a mysterious, alternate world called Stormhold in pursuit of a fallen star. His hopes are to bring it to a young towngirl (the talented Sienna Miller) he has been romantically pursuing. Turns out that star takes the form of a young beauty named Yvaine (Claire Danes). Joining the pursuit are five brothers led by the villainous Septimus (Mark Strong), the kingly throne of Stormhold at stake. Throw in a grisly trio of witches, with Pfeiffer at the helm relishing being uglied up to wield her wicked powers, and you have the formula (potentially) for a swashbuckling romp. Unfortunately, it never comes to pass as the film drags along. The romantic sparks should fly but Cox and Danes have zero chemistry and look immensely bored with it all. Thorne would be better off hooking up with the feisty towngirl than with dull Yvaine.

DeNiro’s presence adds nothing to the mix. As Captain Shakespeare, DeNiro camps it up as the leader of a group of surly, macho pirates in a flying ship. His gruff machismo hides a flamboyant secret: his penchant for women's clothing. Strange, but true—and, oddly out of place in the film. The fact that Shakespeare was not in the novel demonstrates the filmmakers’ desperation to spice up the story. DeNiro’s comic ability is much better suited as the straight man (Jack Byrnes in the Meet the Parents films, for example) than as the cut-up.

The message of finding one’s true love in someone you least expect has been done before and much better. The lustful pursuit of power and immortality and its inevitable consequences is demonstrated as the brothers and witches meet their predictable fates. Ho-hum. Stardust suffers from the fact that it is too mature for young children and too tepid and juvenile for adults. Perhaps the only audience it will find will be teen-age girls who will swoon at the idealistic love of Tristan and Yvaine. Teen-age boys will yawn because there are not enough swordfights.

In the end, Stardust lacks the one thing that is essential for a good, old-fashioned fairy-tale: magic.