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Parents' Guide to

Merlin: The Return

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Clumsy, low-budget King Arthur story is mostly harmless.

Movie NR 2001 90 minutes
Merlin: The Return Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Merlin: The Return Movie: Scene #1
  • Merlin: The Return Movie: Scene #2
  • Merlin: The Return Movie: Scene #3

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What's the Story?

In MERLIN: THE RETURN, for 1,500 years, the great wizard Merlin (Rik Mayall) has been keeping tabs on the evil Mordred (Craig Sheffer), who has been banished to another dimension. Unfortunately, a self-serving modern-day scientist (Tia Carrere) has found a way to let Mordred out. So Merlin enlists the help of some old friends, King Arthur (Patrick Bergin), Sir Lancelot (Adrian Paul), and Guinevere (Julie Hartley). Meanwhile, an American boy, Richie (Byron Taylor), and his new English friend Kate (Leigh Greyvenstein) lend a hand in helping to save the world. Can Mordred be defeated this time?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This movie looks chintzy, doesn't often make any sense, and frequently suffers from poor visual effects, unfunny jokes, and stagnant battle scenes. Writer/director Paul Matthews likely was hampered by a small budget and possibly a lack of skill. Actors such as Craig Sheffer and Tia Carrere, who have been decent elsewhere, come across as fairly hammy, and comic actor Rik Mayall seems an odd choice for Merlin. He never seems sure whether he wants to be heroic or crack a joke.

The plot doesn't seem to come from anywhere. It's not clear what the scientist hopes to achieve by freeing Mordred, nor is it clear what he's going to do when he's freed. It's also not clear what everyone is still doing alive after 1,500 years. But, aside from all this nonsense, Merlin: The Return is far from annoying or aggressive. It's actually fairly inoffensive and harmless, and a certain kind of young viewer might actually enjoy it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Merlin: The Return's violence and scary creatures. Is it too intense for kids? Does it help or hinder the story?

  • What went on between King Arthur's wife Guinevere and Sir Lancelot? Did they betray King Arthur? Did they try to hurt him on purpose? How would you feel in the same situation?

  • Does the movie put the younger characters in any danger? Is the story more exciting or more interesting with younger, more modern characters in it?

  • Does this movie make you want to learn more about the legend of King Arthur?

Movie Details

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