"Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" demonstrates what happens when you take a clever idea and run it into the ground. What should have been an utterly beguiling exploration of the dark side of fantasy and the universal appeal of gothic wickedness devolves into a repetitive comedy that squanders a hugely talented cast. [...] given the popularity of the book series by "Lemony Snicket," the pen name of Daniel Handler, and the clowning of Jim Carrey as the story's flamboyant villain, the movie appears headed for the boxoffice stratosphere.

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