This adventure fantasy from Sean McNamara (Soul Surfer) can’t shake off the cobwebs to be successfully spirited away in the Renaissance.
An Uber producer of adolescent media can’t dust off an adaptation of “The Moon and the Sun” by Vonda N. McIntyre even with noteworthy visuals, designing and a cast led by Pierce Brosnan (The Ghost Writer).
Brosnan finds a regal, extravagant posture for Louis XIV (France’s Sun King) who in this misguided version is driven by immortality. According to dastardly Dr. Labarthe (Pablo Schreider) a mermaid’s heart will quench his desires. In spite of the admonitions of a faithful adviser, Perf LaChaise (William Hurt) about a Divine Will.
The plot falters too often beginning with a sailor Yves De La Croix (Benjamin Walker) out to snare this seaworthy treasure (Fan Bingbing of The 355). A scheme connects with plaintive warbling through the eponymous illicit offspring Marie-Josephe (Kaya Scodelario of Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City).
Co-writer James Schamus tries to muster up interest from the lovely free-spirit in Marie-Josephe with her notable musicianship summoned to Versailles after sheltered in a convent throughout childhood. In conjunction with Louis’ quest another antagonist in the very prosperous prospective suitor in Duke Lintillac (Ben Lloyd-Hughes) before he rides unfavorable into the proverbial wind.
Nothing flavorful registers in The King’s Daughter even with Julie Andrews narrating; barely anything passes for palace intrigue and blandness overcomes any will to create a magical experience. It’s clear that the filmmaking found little inspiration in material given what’s jettisoned and a would-be family friendly spectacle had no reason to leave the shelf.