Starbright
The brief
Starbright feels like someone tried to recreate the wonder of The NeverEnding Story but forgot to include any actual wonder, stretching a fairy tale premise across nearly two and a half hours of plodding adventure. John Rhys-Davies brings his usual gruff charm, but even he can't salvage Francesco Lucente's painfully earnest direction that mistakes length for epic scope. The fallen star concept has potential, but the film gets bogged down in generic fantasy tropes and dialogue that sounds like it was written by someone who's never heard humans actually talk. Perfect for patient fantasy completists who miss the earnest cheese of 80s adventure films, but most viewers will find themselves checking their phones long before the climax.
The verdict
If you're a devoted fantasy fan with serious patience for old-school adventure cheese and don't mind nearly two and a half hours of earnest world-building, this is a nostalgic throwback worth your time. If you expect tight pacing or natural dialogue from your fantasy films, you'll be reaching for the remote long before this overstretched fairy tale finds its footing.
Watch with
- 👥 Fantasy enthusiasts who appreciate classic adventure
- ⚠️ Those expecting fast-paced modern fantasy
Heads up
- Fantasy violence and peril (moderate)
- Potentially frightening magical creatures (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Francesco Lucente
- Cast
- John Rhys-Davies, Ted Levine, Elisabeth Röhm, Diego Boneta, Alexandra Dowling, Becky Ann Baker, Christine Ebersole
Official synopsis
A young woman becomes the guardian of a fallen star, which she must protect from dangerous forces with the help of a brave stranger.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Whisper of the Heart (1995)
Both feature young women protecting magical elements with gentle adventure.
Total runtime: 2h 28m + 1h 51m = 4h 19m
