Magic dust is thin on the ground in Tim Burton’s liberal but low-key take on Walt Disney’s 1941 classic Dumbo about the flying adventures of a big-eared elephant.

If only he had taken the sage advice of amusement park owner Mr Vandevere (Michael Keaton) to struggling ringmaster Max Medici (Danny DeVito): the secret to show business is to keep a rabbit in your hat.

Unfortunately, said rabbit has either chewed a hole in Burton’s hat or is as bashful as a Gremlin from bright lights for the characters and performances like the screenplay by Ehren Kruger are flat and uninspiring.

Particularly Milly Farrier (newcomer Nico Parker), the science enthusiast daughter of one-armed soldier Holt (Colin Farrell), who is as cold as ice. Even the customary twinkle in the eyes of Alan Arkin as financier J. Griffin Remington are dimmed. Likewise Keaton’s trademark idiosyncrasies.

With a budget of $170m and the full backing of Disney’s dizzyingly talented animation team, I expected more. No jaw-dropping set-pieces. Few tugs of the heart strings. Subplots there are none.

Though kudos to Scottish actress Sharon Rooney (Two Doors Down) for landing the sugar plump fairy role of the singing mermaid Miss Atlantis.

Alas, this modest remake won’t make as big a splash.

Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Helen Aberson (novel), Ehren Kruger (screenplay)
Stars: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito
Peter Callaghan
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