To some extent, then, Paul Weitz’s film is parasitically preying on an established trend, but it also has some fresh blood of its own.
Comment
10/30/09
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Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)
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Reviews Counted:123
Fresh:46
Rotten:77
Average Rating:4.9/10
Consensus: This overstuffed, scattershot vampire flick suffers from poor characterization and an unwieldy mix of scares and chuckles.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating]
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Theatrical Release:23-10-2009
Synopsis: The Vampire's Assistant tells the frightening tale of a boy who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood... [More]
Starring: Chris Massoglia, John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Salma Hayek
Director: Paul Weitz
Reviews for Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Infinitely more inventive than the sweetly romantic Twilight.
10/30/09
Its high production values - not to mention the world's cutest poisonous spider - can't paper over a tepid and drawn-out plot.
10/30/09
More of a curio than a serious contender for the next gothic craze.
10/30/09
This light approach keeps it entertaining, but it also prevents it from being a classic.
10/28/09
A talented ensemble helps this pull through despite a leaden lead, but it may still seem too childish for adults and too adult for kids.
10/23/09
Top CriticThere are also so many characters that some barely register, while others – like our teen hero – are just unlikeable. It’s very energetic, but a more relaxed sequel, in which everyone has fun, might be a big improvement.
10/23/09
Top CriticCirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant is a film with a chronic identity crisis and no clear idea where it's headed.
10/23/09
Top CriticThe biggest shortcoming of Cirque du Freak is the absence of a proper, self-contained story. So convinced is Weitz that his film is going to spawn a dozen sequels that he spends most of his time setting up the characters and their relationships.
10/23/09
Top CriticTod Browning's Freaks were the real thing. These are strictly CGI and the teen-vamp pose is beginning to pall.
10/23/09
Top CriticThe film can never quite make up its mind whether it's about the circus or the vampires and ends up a mess of its own making.
10/23/09
This is a young person’s film, make no mistake, but one which holds back on completely adhering to the fang frenzy youngsters have been going bat shit for recently, consequently sealing its own fate.
10/23/09
Worth a watch and does contain some truly spectacular special effects and intriguing performances.
10/23/09
Entertaining enough but, despite a sequel-set-up ending, this franchise will have to sharpen its fangs if it really wants to take on Twilight.
10/23/09
It's worth the price of a ticket but, like most passing curiosities, the first coming of Cirque Du Freak is all sideshows and no main event.
10/23/09
Reilly’s terrific as the bloodsucker who’s lost his zest for death, and there’s further quality from supporting freaks.
10/23/09
An underwhelming screenplay and weak acting mean this is unlikely to spawn one sequel, let alone many.
10/23/09
This stylish tale of teen terror is impressive but unsatisfying.
10/23/09
Neither babyfaced Massoglia or craggy Reilly make convincing vampires. And Cirque Du Freak author Darren Shan must be a supreme egotist to name the hero after himself.
10/23/09
Cirque du Freak is a lame comedy.
10/23/09
Latest News for Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
October 22, 2009:
Critics Consensus: Astro Boy Doesn't Quite Soar
This week at the movies, we've got an anime hero (Astro Boy, with voice work from Kristen Bell and Nicolas Cage); a vampire war ( Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant,... More...
October 19, 2009:
Weitz Brothers Form a New Kind of Blood Bond 
Not only are Paul and Chris Weitz both directors, but they're both releasing vampire-themed movies within a month of each other this fall. More...
September 27, 2009:
New: View the Brand New Trailer Here.
More...
September 13, 2009:
Trailer & Poster review
More...
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