Mega Mindy and the Candy Baron (2011)

Directed by: Vincent Rouffaer | 75 minutes | family | Actors: Free Souffriau, Louis Talpe, Fred Van Kuyk, Nicky Langley, Angela Schijf, Dennis van der Geest, Anton Cogen, Johny Voners, Tristan Versteven, Elodie Ouedraogo

With already the third cinema adventure of Studio 100 success formula Mega Mindy, the Flemish multinational seems to be heading for a Christmas tradition. Although the first film was released in the summer of 2009, successor ‘Mega Mindy and the Black Crystal’ managed to make many families brave the snow and go to the cinema. The movies seem to get a little better every time. After the very debatable first cinema adventure of the blonde superheroine, Matthias Temmermans managed to raise the level in ‘Mega Mindy en het Zwarte Kristal’ (2010) a bit. Another director was hired for ‘Mega Mindy and the candy baron’, Vincent Rouffaer, who is especially known for TV productions. Rouffaer not only succeeds in conjuring up a very entertaining adventure for the target group on the silver screen, but also in making it not too difficult for the parents watching. This was complicated in the first two films by the cringe-inducing acting and a too long plot. That’s a lot better here.

‘Mega Mindy and the Candy Baron’ revolves around the formerly successful boss of a candy empire, Baron Louis. When he is pointed out by his loyal butler Alexander that the money is now really gone, the power-hungry baron realizes that something has to change. According to Alexander, everyone likes Grandma Fonkel’s sweets the best. Louis then pays a visit to the sweet shop of Mieke’s grandparents in the hope of getting Grandma Fonkel to get a job in his candy factory, where all the employees left months ago because they were not paid a salary. Of course Grandma Fonkel is not pleased with his offer. But when they think they’ve got rid of Louis, they’re wrong!

Meanwhile, Mieke and grandpa are busy preparing for the surprise party for grandma Fonkel. The candy store will soon be fifty years old! While cleaning up, Grandpa Sparkle comes across a mysterious liquid, one of his earlier inventions. It’s a love potion: the person who drinks it falls in love with the first person he or she sees. Grandma Fonkel advises Mieke to use this for Toby, because you ‘have to give love a hand sometimes’. Before Toby can take a bite of his soup and drink, Grandma is kidnapped. Mieke and Grandpa have to do everything they can to involve Commissioner Migraine in their investigation. But actually Mieke doesn’t need his help at all.

Luckily for the little fans, the familiar elements of the Mega Mindy series are never far away. The sign for Migraine’s head seems bigger than ever, Toby is still head over heels on Mega Mindy, but doesn’t see alter ego Mieke, as usual another experiment by Grandpa Fonkel fails and the crook has next to a stupid accomplice, Rufus (Dennis van der Geest), also an employee who will help Mega Mindy save the day. These predictable elements ensure that the story remains manageable, even for the younger viewers. Because it never really gets scary, not even when Toby and Migraine are on the assembly line to be ground into caramel candies. You can’t really call these films quality, but whoever has a daughter who prefers to walk around in a pink Mega Mindy costume or a son who likes to wear the blue Mega Toby variant, will do his child a great favor with a visit to this film. And while “Mega Mindy and the Candy Baron” is just a fill-in-the-blank exercise, the result is quite nice, even for adults.