It is the unfortunate duty of Lemony Snicket (Jude Law) to document this story of a tragic fire that turns the good Baudelaire children into orphans. They’re given over to the horrendous care of devious Count Olaf (Jim Carrey) who, sniffing financial gain, plots to kill the children for their inheritance. But they, inventive and book-wise, outwit him at every turn, first taking refuge with Uncle Monty (Billy Connolly) and then the frightful grammarian Aunt Josephine (Meryl Streep). However, great peril is never far behind. Taking its cue from the operatically comical world of Roald Dahl as drawn by Tim Burton, A Series of Unfortunate Events reveals gothic tragedy with a hearty sense of irony, downplaying the cheery aspect of children’s stories for something altogether more grim. Daniel Handler’s tremendously successful books (this is based on the first three of ten) are placed under the able stewardship of director Brad Silberling (Casper) who grasps the imaginative possibilities with both hands. The design is as inspired as it is inspiring, an exciting world in which Amelie might have her nightmares. Yet the dichotomy between Olaf’s campy meanness (he is not nearly as sinister as he would have us think) and the brooding evil that underscores the film leaves a chill that whittles at its potential. Adrift between humour and pathos, the children work much harder to engage the audience than Harry Potter or James of the Giant Peach. That said, not a creature stirred in the cinema until well into the credits, so mesmerising were these most unfortunate events. It is also heartening to watch a film cheerfully head into life’s bleakest recesses knowing kids can handle it. // COLIN FRASER