Merlin: The Return

Merlin: The Return is a 2000 British fantasy film written, produced, and directed by Paul Matthews. The film stars Rik Mayall, Patrick Bergin, Craig Sheffer, Adrian Paul, Julie Hartley, and Tia Carrere. It tells the story of Merlin and King Arthur in modern times.

Plot
For 1,500 years, the powers of Merlin (Rik Mayall) have kept the evil Mordred (Craig Sheffer) and his mother Morgana (Grethe Fox) captive in another world. When a present-day scientist (Tia Carrere) stumbles upon the gateway between this world and the one Mordred is imprisoned in, it is up to a recently re-awakened King Arthur (Patrick Bergin), Merlin and Lancelot (Adrian Paul) to stop Mordred from returning, but Arthur seems more interested in slaying a large truck monster.

Cast

 * Rik Mayall as Merlin
 * Patrick Bergin as King Arthur
 * Craig Sheffer as Mordred
 * Adrian Paul as Lancelot
 * Julie Hartley as Guinevere
 * Tia Carrere as Dr. Joan Maxwell
 * Leigh Greyvenstein as Kate
 * Byron Taylor as Richie Gould
 * Grethe Fox as Morgana
 * Jennifer Steyn as Richie's Mom
 * Anthony Bishop as Gawain
 * Lynne White as Aunt Everlyn
 * Jocelyn Broderick as Megan

Reception
Critical reception for the film was mostly negative;  Michael Thomson of the BBC wrote, "It's almost as if director Paul Matthews had accepted a bet to make the worst possible film." Time Out London commented that the film was "indifferently directed" but was "a harmless adventure". Total Film, in summing up the film, wrote, "It's a word that has some might/It starts with `Sh'/And rhymes with kite...".