For a series set in a magical alternate world tucked away from our weary doldrums, the Harry Potter films have never conveyed any sense of the wonder of J.K. Rowling's mad creation. Even as the series grew darker with each sequel, half the fun of reading them was exploring new places and oddball characters, which gave them an unassailable joyousness no matter how bleak the outcome looked for our heroes.
Not that Harry is feeling particularly cheery at the start of "Half-Blood Prince." Now redeemed in the court of public opinion following proof of Voldemort's return, Harry must endure press junkets mere minutes after watching his godfather Sirius die. This devastating moment rarely has any impact on the story at all, perhaps because the last film failed to wring much emotion out of it. Soon afterward, Dumbledore interrupts Harry's summer break to begin the hunt for their nemesis.
Michael Gambon has been a treat ever since he took over for the late, great Richard Harris in the third film, but he brings his A-game this time, mixing regret, quiet strength and subtle humor effortlessly. He holds the entire film together as he takes Harry on strolls through a magical Memory Lane to trace Voldemort's history.
The first act of the film, the best stretch of the film series captures the darkness of the novel, and David Yates' direction is sturdy and evocative. Harry's trips with Dumbledore and the flashback of young Tom Riddle (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, nephew of Ralph Fiennes, Voldemort himself) are deeply and wonderfully unsettling.
Then we start following our beloved trio through the school year, and the film loses its way. Yates and writer Steve Kloves suddenly drop the dark air of the first act in favor of a protracted inspection of the romantic woes of all three.
Ron and Hermione's attempts to woo the other only drive them further apart, while Harry apparently has to queue up for a crack at Ron's little sis' Ginny (Bonnie Wright).
These slightly comical interactions greatly distract from the mission at hand. Why Yates decided to give these subplots so much time is beyond me.
On the positive side, the acting is up to the usual standards. Poor Rupert Grint has always made the best of a bad situation with the under-written Ron, but he gets some big laughs with his dopey grin and his constant bemusement. Both Fiennes-Tiffin and Frank Dillane (who play the teen Riddle) are pitch-perfect in their roles, and Dillane in particular makes me wish far more of the film had been devoted to him working his icy charm on unsuspecting adults.
However, it's Tom Felton, the best of the child actors since the first film, who steals the show as the hardened yet tortured Draco. He's always had that haughty sneer down pat, but we see another side of him in this film, and he outperforms even the adults.
"Half-Blood Prince," like all of its predecessors save "Prisoner of Azkaban," has excellent moments, but fails to add up into a cohesive whole. Its omissions and alterations result in an enjoyable movie, but one that builds to an emotional climax that never comes. And for the love of God, will they give Alan Rickman something to do before this series ends?
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