New ‘Potter’ film offers dark twist

In theaters

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, directed by Alfonso Cuaron, written by Steve Kloves, based on the novel by J. K. Rowling, 136 minutes, rated PG.

In the new Harry Potter film, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” the childlike whimsy of the two previous Potters is dead, replaced by an encroaching loss of innocence and a foreboding sense of darkness.

The result? A new punch of life for the series.

Bleeding into every corner of this accomplished third installment in J.K. Rowling’s popular run of novels is a greater presence of evil. That may make for less jaunty entertainment, but it also makes for greater measures of depth and intrigue.

Unlike its predecessors, this Potter doesn’t feel pressed to satisfy audiences with kitschy thrills and wide-eyed wonderment.

As directed by Alfonso Cuaron (“The Little Princess,” “Y Tu Mama Tambien”), who takes the reins from Chris Columbus, “Azkaban” makes a clear statement: kiddie time is over, folks. Time to get down to the real meat of the story and deal with the ugliness Harry must face as he and his best friends, Ron and Hermione, are vaulted deeper into Rowling’s uneasy mystery.

Based on a screenplay by Steve Kloves, the film opens with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) once again dealing with his vicious relatives, the Dursleys.

After casting a spell that leaves his Aunt Marge (Pam Ferris) flying high like a blimp, Harry is off to Hogwarts. There, he learns that Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) – the murderous lout who helped Lord Voldemort kill Harry’s parents – has escaped from Azkaban prison and might be out to kill Harry.

Worse for Harry is that Azkaban’s prison guards – a menacing crew of soul-sucking ghouls called the Dementors – have taken to the skies in an effort to find Black. This naturally leads them to Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), who must rely on themselves and on each other to survive the impending doom.

Several new characters add zest to the already saucy mix, including Emma Thompson as the bumbling Prof. Sybil Trelawney, David Thewlis as the mysterious Prof. Lupin and Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew, who begins the movie as something a wee bit different than how he ends it.

Also giving the film a lift, quite literally, is the Hippogriff, a grand, mythical cross between a horse and a bird. Harry’s first flight with the beast is the movie at its best, an exhilarating high point only matched by a stormy game of Quidditch.

Returning to the fold are Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape and Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall, all of whom anchor this grim, grainy-looking film with an air of familiarity. Michael Gambon’s dry turn as Prof. Albus Dumbledore gives the movie an unexpected, bittersweet undercurrent.

Gambon took over the role for Richard Harris, who died three weeks before the last film’s release. He’s just right here, a nice addition to a cast of characters charged with the hell that is their adolescence, with no recourse but a handful of “spellsand” – in this movie, a helpful dose of time travel – to see them through it.

Grade: A-

On video and DVD

WELCOME TO MOOSE-PORT, directed by Donald Petrie, written by Tom Schulman, 110 minutes, rated PG-13.

“Welcome to Mooseport” is set in Maine, but that’s no reason to see it. The movie is that rare moviegoing event in which you could actually save yourself a trip to the video store by merely looking out a window. Whatever the view there, it likely will be more compelling than what’s tossed onto the screen here.

The film is high-concept, feature-length swill almost completely devoid of laughs. Its cast is appealing – that’s its hook – but its predictable story is such a lazy tumble of cliches, it never takes off to meet expectations.

Ray Romano is Handy Harrison, a plumber in a small, seaside town that might have recalled Kennebunkport if it weren’t for the crowds of colorful, folksy stereotypes buzzing about town in their L.L. Bean best. Essentially, they’re the Stepford Mainers.

The story revolves around Handy’s relationship with his headstrong girlfriend, Sally (Maura Tierney), who wants the commitment-shy Handy to pop the question so they can formally start their life together. Into this mix comes the former president of the United States, Monroe “The Eagle” Cole (Gene Hackman), who has returned to Mooseport to reside in his summerhouse during the messy divorce from his soon-to-be ex-wife Charlotte (Christine Baranski).

Love triangles ensue, with a showdown between Handy and Monroe leading to a dual run for mayor and a fight for Sally’s affection.

Rip Torn, Marcia Gay Harden, Fred Savage and Baranski try to add life to the film’s several subplots, but only Baranski scores laughs toward the end. Fairing less well is Romano, who might want to hold on to his television career, and Hackman, who is a disappointment.

Grade: D

Christopher Smith is the Bangor Daily News film critic. His reviews appear Mondays and Fridays in Style, 5:30 p.m. Thursdays on WLBZ 2 Bangor and WCSH 6 Portland, and are archived at RottenTomatoes.com. He may be reached at BDNFilm1@aol.com.