In the Victorian village of Wall, lovelorn Tristan (Charlie Cox) promises snooty Victoria (Sienna Miller) that he'll fetch her back a falling star from the magical kingdom of Stormhold.

But when he discovers that the 'star' is actually beautiful blonde Yvaine (Claire Danes), his long journey back to his beloved takes an attractive twist.

Unfortunately, wicked witch Lamia (the suddenly-everywhere Pfeiffer) wants to cut out the star's still-beating heart, to gain eternal youth. And dark prince Septimus (Mark Strong) needs it to secure his throne.

A lucky encounter with a unicorn and a magic candle leads Tristan and Yvaine safely into the skyborne ship of lightning-catcher Captain Shakespeare (De Niro). Then things get a bit surreal.

De Niro's salty skydog is secretly (he thinks) an effete, cross-dressing, tea-drinking "whoopsie" - in the words of his not-fooled-for-a-second crew. Shakespeare helps Tristan smarten up his act, with a new haircut, a spiffy suit, and a helpful hint about Yvaine being his true love.

All aboard for misunderstandings aplenty, a climactic chase-and-swordfight, reunited families and a lost birthright restored.

Jane Goldman and director Matthew Vaughn's screenplay, adapted from Neil Gaiman's novel, crams a lot in to the film's running time.

But while it can feel a bit patchy, the overall exuberance of the story and characters carry the plot along at a cracking pace.

After her bitchy turn in the remake of Hairspray, Pfeiffer revels in the chance to be even meaner, embracing Lamia's decline into hideous hag-itude with an admirable lack of vanity.

Meanwhile, De Niro continues his legend-shattering work from Analyze That and Meet The Parents, gleefully camping it up to comic effect.

These two and Danes aside, it's an all-Brit affair, with a ‘who's who’ of small-screen talent, from Green Wing's Julian Rhind-Tutt to the inevitable Ricky Gervais, popping up in minor roles.

There's fantastical fun to be had here, but be sure to check cynicism at the door.

Ruth Ford