Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism

Despite its Harry Potter-esque title, magical book plot, and English orphanage setting, this adaptation isn't nearly as enchanting as the title suggests. Cassidy, who was wonderful in Tomorrowland, is certainly a capable young actress, but Molly Moon has one too many stereotypical elements to work together. The plot sputters and starts, shifting from an orphanage-based tale to a fish-out-of-water-in-the-heart-of-London adventure midway through. And once Molly starts using her powers selfishly instead of to help her fellow orphans, the story gets less interesting. She eventually hypnotizes her way to the starring role in a variety show, even though anyone not hypnotized in the audience knows she can't sing, dance, or act. In essence, she becomes a brat, and with that transformation, the audience basically stops caring about her.

Although the movie is likely to entertain kids who enjoy their villains obvious and their jokes scatological (there's a scene in which the villain is waist deep in sewage), Molly Moon isn't going to hold the attention of older tweens used to a certain level of sophistication in their live-action family movies. And while adults may get a kick out of seeing a blast from the past, Joan Collins, appear as the villain's criminal mastermind of a mother, the novelty is short-lived.