When a young boy (Jahzir Bruno) is orphaned he is sent to go and live with his grandmother (Octavia Spencer) and together they encounter a coven of witches led by the evil Grand High Witch (Anne Hathaway). 

Roald Dahl’s beloved 1983 novel is treated to its second film adaptation and whilst there are some relatively large changes it remains faithful to the spirit of the original. The main changes are that the story is transplanted from England to America where the events unfold in Alabama and Chicago. And the addition of another mouse character called Daisy. Otherwise the plot and main set pieces remain the same. 

The film features an all star cast with Stanley Tucci and Chris Rock joining Spencer and Hathaway as the big Hollywood draws. Oddly none of them particularly stand out with Hathaway even feeling flat in the grandiose role of the Grand High Witch. 

Writer/director Robert Zemeckis who is known for his visual effects artistry also seems to have difficulty lighting up the screen with the effects work which is merely fine. We have cgi mice and cats as well as grotesque witches but none are particularly good or bad. 

It is a difficult film to recommend or decry. Fans of the book should be happy enough with its faithfulness, the effects are fine and the performances are solid. It just doesn’t have any magic that lights up the screen.