Starring Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons, and Sienna Guillory. Rated PG.

Eragon is an earnestly overwrought sword-and-sorcery fantasy with an excess of flaming arrows, unpronounceable names, and plummy British accents. It’s all in the service of dressing up the impressive special effects supplied by technical wizard–turned–director Stefen Fangmeier. His directorial debut should prove irresistible to both antsy kids and overgrown slackers who spend far too much time role-playing on-line.

Based on the popular novel by Christopher Paolini, it concerns a 17-year-old farm boy named Eragon (newcomer Edward Speleers, who’s pleasant but a little soft). Eragon’s life is changed forever when he discovers an egg that unleashes a flying dragon with magical powers. The dragon’s name is Saphira. No ordinary pet, she grows up with the ability to breathe fire, swoop through the skies at super-speed, and talk in the silken tones of a lingerie model (courtesy of a voice supplied by the decidedly unscaly Rachel Weisz).

Although Saphira may sound more like a professional escort than a mythical beast with a noble purpose, she’s pure of heart. You would be too if you’d been waiting thousands of years to come to life and save Eragon’s village from the reign of an evil king (John Malkovich, who chews up the scenery as if he were still working on those leftover Oreos from Rounders). All she needs is a jockey with the right stuff.

It turns out that Eragon has been chosen by fate to become a dragon rider, the sort of avenger who can rally a ragtag army of freedom fighters just waiting to be inspired. Unfortunately, Eragon is a little green, so he hooks up with a former dragon rider named Brom who’s seen better days (Jeremy Irons who adds a bracing touch of elegance). Brom shows Eragon the ropes, and, before you know it, our young hero feels ready to test the awesome powers of the king’s evil sorcerer (Robert Carlyle, unrecognizable in gory makeup and a long red wig). Eragon’s first task is to test the resources of his enemy by rescuing Arya, a beautiful princess type (Sienna Guillory). He screws up. But, like a true hero, he rallies just in time to stir up thoughts of the inevitable sequel.