Since the movie I wanted to see this weekend was only in limited release (Rocket Science), instead I went to see 'Stardust.'

Surprisingly, though the movie is overly congested by the end with sub-plots and deus ex machinas, it's so fun that it doesn't matter.

Not straying far from the mold for romances, fantasies, or a combination of both, there's still a traditional sense of 'quest' and 'love' that has been around since, well, forever. What Stardust attempts to do is blend the realities, with a boy from real-world England going into a fantasy world where ghosts provide hilarious commentary, stars are incarnated as beautiful ladies (Claire Danes, whom I love forever), and witches need to eat hearts to survive.

The movie hits just the right amount of comedy, and though it's not overwhelming, it seems that the movie itself is just a tad too long. It breaks the two hour marker, which is almost a cardinal sin of rom-coms. Even though Robert DeNiro had some great moments, cutting out his plot line could've shortened the movie and not hurt it at all. I think it would've clocked in at about 90 minutes, which is close to perfect.

And why is Michelle Pfeiffer, even at (almost) 50, still the hottest chick in this movie? She's such a great actress and I'm glad she's back after a few years break. Between this and Hairspray I like her infinitely more.

If you're on the fence about seeing this, remember what one guy said to his group of 5 guy friends when the credits came up: "See, I told you it wasn't going to be as gay as you thought!"

Rating: 5.5/7