From fairytale fiction writers to action heroes, the new movie "The Brothers Grimm" spins a new tale of the historic siblings.

During the French occupation of Germany in the early 1900s, Jake and Will Grimm (played by Heath Ledger and Matt Damon respectively) are known famously for killing witches and trolls across the land. However, the brothers Grimm aren't trustworthy souls; instead, they are swindlers who prey on the village peasants' gullibility.

They get a taste of their own medicine when a French general gets a hold of them and sends them to a town with its own folklore running amok. But this situation is unlike any other the brothers have faced — it's real. The Grimm brothers must battle an immortal queen (Monica Bellucci) with her creatures and enchanted forest while trying to save girls from the town.

The movie's plot is interesting and breathes new life into the well-known writers, but instead of the script being effortless — like a fairytale — the strain on the script and actors is noticeable. However, the movie's special effects and scenery are spectacular. Much of the action occurs in the enchanted forest, which in the daytime is bathed in golden light, but at night is dark and brooding. The forest also took on a life of its own and had the ability to move, which adds another dynamic to the film.

"The Brothers Grimm" is a mishmash of fairytales, both written by the original brothers and by others. It's like a game — "name all the fairytales portrayed and you'll win a prize!" Unless the movie is about an ogre in a magical land — "Shrek" or "Shrek 2" just to clarify — it's not okay to include a plot line like "Snow White" along with "The Gingerbread Man," "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Cinderella."

Damon and Ledger try their best at portraying Will, the brains of the con artist scam, and Jake, the dreamer, but aren't believable as siblings and their representation seems forced at times.

A running argument between the brothers finds Will yelling at Jake constantly about magic beans. These scenes come off as random and laughable rather than what their true intent — the fact that Jake sacrificed hard earned money for magic beans when he was younger at the expense of a sick family member — is supposed to be.

While Damon and Ledger may be first billed on the actors list, the surprise performance came from the relatively unknown actress Lena Headey. She plays Angelika, a woman shunned by her town because she is thought to be cursed. Headey plays the tough woman — tough enough to skin and gut a rabbit and lick toads — tormented by the losses in her life and it's believable.

But the absolute most atrocious element of the movie has to do with the appalling accents tailored by a majority of the actors. The biggest offender: Peter Stormare as the psychotic Cavaldi. Being originally from Sweden, Stormare playing an Italian is farfetched. Most of his speech is garbled and incomprehensible.

When a movie is hardly advertised, there's a reason. No matter how many bright spots appear through "The Brothers Grimm," the overall effect is sub par.

Grade: C

This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 1, 2005.