“I was expecting more…” You would think riding a dragon would take years of practice and effort. That guiding a mythical beast through the clouds would be an arduous task at very least. But not for Eragon.

Opening today, Eragon is the story of a young farm boy from Alageasia, where he stumbles upon a dragon egg. Unbeknownst to Eragon, played by Edward Speleers, the egg has been stolen from Galbatorix, the evil ruler of all of Alageasia, who dispatches hordes of his minions to retrieve it and its contents. Upon learning of the legend of dragons and riders, Eragon and his dragon Saphira embarks on a journey across unknown lands to defend his home and rescue a girl he’s never met.

Don’t go into Eragon expecting an epic story about the struggle between good and evil. Don’t go expecting much of a story at all. Adapted from the novel of young Christopher Paolini, the film’s plot line is riddled with holes. Even for someone who’s never read the book, the plot jumps are easy to spot throughout the film as one scene cuts to another without warning or direction leaving so many questions for the viewers. And dialogue that could give the story a firmer foundation is also absent from the film, which leaves audiences relying solely on the visual effects and novelty of a dragon to get through the film.

But although weak in plot, Speleers is a strong actor with a flair and smirk for the dramatic moment. Although the film may fall well short of “Lord of the Rings” comparisons, Speleers is reminiscent of Elijah Wood’s impressive performance from the classic trilogy. Jeremy Irons and John Malkovich also add some veteran grit and gristle as each give a gruff performance on opposite sides of the battlefields. And while the relationship between Eragon and his dragon is underdeveloped at best, the awkward dialogue between them is a stretch of the imagination, even for a film about dragons and sorcerers.

At a paltry 104 minutes, screenwriters had loads of time to develop this potentially dazzling film. Audiences expect fantasy movies about the mysterious and courageous to be near three hour larger-than-life marathons. Eragon is a real missed opportunity and does a disservice to the novel which played out the history of the legend at length. Failing to achieve that same connection with the audience, the film falls flat and dull.

Younger children will love the film because of the mystical element and the obvious commanding presence of Saphira. But mature audiences will recognize the glaring absences from the depths of the story as well as the blatant fast forward moments from the novel. And although Eragon may have been a swing and a miss, a chance at redemption may not be far off.

Rating: 1 Star

Total stars possible: 4

Josh Huggett can be reached at [email protected]