DUCKSCARES

Huey, Dewey, and Louie encounter pastries and poltergeists on a visit to Paris.

Featuring wide margins, a dizzying variety of fonts, and an abundance of static tableaux and vignettes in drab grayish-blue monochrome, the second leg of the ducklings’ European tour takes them floating in a hot air balloon past the Eiffel Tower and a few other landmarks, then on to a patisserie, where, along with chowing down on pain au chocolat, they meet the ghost of the store’s founder—who angrily trashes the place, repeatedly unleashing flocks of spectral mice and chefs when his prized book of recipes suddenly disappears. Though occasional scenes, such as a battle with a gooey crème brûlée monster that is defeated at last by an overdose of cinnamon, show flashes of wit, in general the food-centric plot wanders aimlessly until its plainly telegraphed denouement, punctuated less with moments of terror than by travelogue infobits and forced banter: “He did not say “raisin”! He said “maison”! / WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? / A maison is a house. A raisin is a grape. / You mean WAS a grape.” Except for a dog named Cornichon (and a werewolf on the loose near Notre Dame), the cast sports animal heads atop human bodies.

Duck this bland decoction.