| Merlin: The Return | |
| Director: | Paul Matthews |
| Producer: | Elizabeth Matthews Paul Matthews |
| Based On: | Arthurian legend |
| Starring: | Rik Mayall Patrick Bergin Craig Sheffer Adrian Paul Tia Carrere |
| Music: | Mark Thomas |
| Cinematography: | Vincent G. Cox |
| Editing: | Peter Davies |
| Studio: | Allumination |
| Distributor: | Peakviewing Transatlantic Plc |
| Runtime: | 90 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
| Gross: | £20,868 (UK)[1] |
Merlin: The Return is a 2000 British fantasy film written, produced, and directed by Paul Matthews. The film stars Rik Mayall, Patrick Bergin, Craig Sheffer, Adrian Paul, Julie Hartley, and Tia Carrere.[2] It tells the story of Merlin and King Arthur in modern times.[3] [4]
For 1,500 years, the powers of Merlin (Rik Mayall) have kept the evil Mordred (Craig Sheffer) and his mother Morgana (Grethe Fox) captive in another world. When a present-day scientist (Tia Carrere) stumbles upon the gateway between this world and the one Mordred is imprisoned in, it is up to a recently re-awakened King Arthur (Patrick Bergin), Merlin and Lancelot (Adrian Paul) to stop Mordred from returning,[5] but Arthur seems more interested in slaying a large truck monster.
Critical reception for the film was mostly negative;[6] [7] Michael Thomson of the BBC wrote, "It's almost as if director Paul Matthews had accepted a bet to make the worst possible film."[8] Time Out London commented that the film was "indifferently directed" but was "a harmless adventure".[9] Total Film, in summing up the film, wrote, "It's a word that has some might/It starts with `Sh'/And rhymes with kite...".[10]