TNT’s The Librarian: Curse Of The Judas Chalice Sunday, Dec. 7

By April MacIntyre Dec 6, 2008, 20:44 GMT

Noah Wylie as Flynn courtesy of TNT

One to watch for the whole family on Sunday night.

Noah Wylie is back in the trifecta performance as Flynn, the Librarian who has given up a personal life for loftier ideals, namely saving and gathering up the priceless relics and artifacts of the world for his Library.

Wylie’s adept Flynn Carsen make the Librarian franchise a great watch, and as a bonus features the great Bob Newhart and Jane Curtin, who reprises her maternal role as his Library boss to help Flynn, add to the experience.

Bob Newhart-courtesy of TNT

The story begins with a kidnapping of Professor Lazlo (Bruce Davison), a brilliant history expert at the University of Bucharest.  Lazlo is taken hostage by a group of ex KGB who want him to find the Judas Chalice.   Their hope is to resurrect Prince Vlad Dracul and wreak evil on the world.

Jane Curtin, courtesy of TNT

Meanwhile, Flynn is having an existential crisis: He is exhausted from saving the world at the expense of missing out on living his life, finding love and maybe being home for Christmas.
Flynn shines when he confronts Charlene and Judson (Newhart), and counts off the disappointments  while  gathering up antiquities and saving the world: “Blackbeard’s chest, my mom’s 65th birthday... Da Vinci’s diary, my 10-year college reunion.” 

He’s genuinely funny, as is Excalibur’s sword that keeps smacking him and nudging him during his “poor me” speech. Great work visual effects.

Stana Katic, courtesy of TNT

Curtin’s Charlene encourages him to take a vacation to New Orleans for a break.  Of course, no breaks are given and a portentous dream for Flynn comes to life in the embodiment of sultry siren Stana Katic, who plays Simone Renoir.

She has made it her mission to keep the Chalice hidden and secret so it won’t fall into the wrong hands.  When the cup is taken, Flynn and Simone must do everything in their power to prevent Vlad Dracul from casting the entire world into shadow. 

You know, a good old-fashioned yarn of good versus evil in the race to save the world.

TNT, Sunday night at 8, Eastern and Pacific times; 7, Central time.

“Chalice,” is a creation from the fertile mind of executive producer and director Dean Devlin who has a great new series for TNT “Leverage,” debuting on the heels of this movie Sunday night.

Directed by Jonathan Frakes; written by Marco Schnabel; Dean Devlin, Kearie Peak and Marc Roskin; David Connell - director of photography; Art Direction - Christina Eunji Kim; Robb Wilson King - production designer; David Siegel - editor.

Cast: Noah Wyle (Flynn Carsen), Bruce Davidson (Professor Lazlo), Stana Katic (Simone Renoir), Dikran Tulaine (Kubichek), Jane Curtin (Charlene) and Bob Newhart (Judson).