'City Of Ember' sluggish but visually spectacular

Cert PG

Family/Drama/Action

For the past 200 years, the subterranean metropolis of Ember has survived with the help of its massive generator, but as food stores dwindle and machinery fails, this microcosm of life threatens to slip into eternal darkness.

Graduate student Doon Harrow (Harry Treadaway) and feisty classmate Lina Mayfleet (Saoirse Ronan) resolve to find a solution to the nightmare. Lina stumbles upon the answer when she finds a metal box containing badly torn, cryptic instructions.

Based on the novel by Jeanne DuPrau, City Of Ember feels a tad sluggish, though the sets are truly spectacular.

Ronan and Treadaway are both endearing but we don’t spend enough time with either of their adventurous urchins to feel we know them before the grand adventure begins.

Star rating: 3/5