Look, it's another wizard movie with demons, magic spells and a young man with amazing powers. Do we really need another graft from the "Harry Potter" vine?

Actually, yes, we do.

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice," starring Nicolas Cage, is a tamer tale of supernatural shenanigans that is far more appropriate for young children than the sometimes too-scary scenes from J.K. Rowling's stories.

In this story, Cage plays wizard Balthazar Blake, who was one of three wizards trained by Merlin to fight the evil Morgana back in the Round Table days. Merlin died in the fight, but Blake managed to trap Morgana and turncoat wizard Horvath (Alfred Molina) in an urn that he has kept hidden for centuries - until he can find the "Prime Merlinian," the super wizard who will have the power to kill Morgana.

Blake finds his special someone in the present day, in the physics department at New York University. There, the affable but nerdy Dave - the consistently good Jay Baruchel of "Tropic Thunder" and "She's Out of My League" - is researching Tesla coils and trying to impress cute girl Becky (Teresa Palmer). He has no taste, or talent, for becoming a demon fighter. But after Blake's coaching and coaxing, the two men set out to rid the world of evil once and for all.

Cage and Molina deliver solid performances, but it is somewhat disappointing that the role given to the talented and beautiful Monica Bellucci, the third wizard and Blake's true love, is nothing more than a cameo.

Sure, this is a predictable story from the Disney studio: bloodless fantasy violence; chaste love story; no foul language; nerdy kid becomes a hero; good triumphs over evil; and everyone lives happily ever after.

If a couple of adults are looking for mature movie enjoyment, this can be a disappointing recipe. But if you want a fun, fast-paced film that can be enjoyed by all ages, it cooks up just right.