In an odd tale of misfortune, misadventure with a sizeable dollop of misery thrown in for good measure, are the three Baudelaire children. Violet is a whiz at invention, Klaus the bookworm possesses a photographic memory and Sunny bites people; if she likes them.

Expect a wonderful blend of mystery and adventure, set to charm both children and adults. The series of books upon which Lemony Snicket is based, topped the bestseller list for more than 600 weeks, edging out Harry Potter.

Narrated by Jude Law as the mysterious Lemony Snicket, this story is no mere fairytale but layered with a sinister quality as the unthinkable happens to three defenseless children. A fire that ravages the Baudelaire mansion also orphans them.

Left with nothing but each other, the trio is forced into the hands of one unsuitable and quirky guardian after another. And to further complicate matters, a conniving Count Olaf, the film's villain out to rob the children of their inheritance, tails them.

In the face of their predicament, Violet, Klaus and Sunny employ their talents to work their way out of tight situations.

Kids in Charge

Violet's marvelous inventive streak "a bed that makes itself and an automatic harmonica player are among her many inventions" and Klaus' inexhaustive memory for information prove to be life savers, helping them outwit Olaf.

The lovely Emily Browning fills the shoes of Violet, having fallen in love with the books in the series. "My character is sort of the responsible one, and she feels that since her parents are gone, she's the one in charge. She's really a great kid; smart, caring and she throws an optimistic spin on all the horrible things that keep happening."

Liam Aiken plays bookwormy 12 year-old Klaus. "There are a lot of things in this movie that you have to think twice about. It has some seriousness to it, but basically it's very funny."

The children take centre stage in this production. Instead of being portrayed as weak, childish or helpless, this film embraces and recognizes that children are 'small adults' who know more than adults credit them for.

"This is a wonderfully intelligent and unpredictable story founded on the strength of family and the resiliency of children," offers Jim Van Wyck, one of the film's producers. Adds executive producer Julia Pistor, "This film does not insult the intelligence of kids, it celebrates it."

Coolly creepy

And who better to assume the role of Count Olaf than Jim Carrey, a master at character acting and for whom comedy has become second nature. In Lemony Snicket, Carrey suits up to take on three disparate personas, all in a bid to lay his hands on the inheritance.

"He's a megalomaniac. He's a sociopath. He's a complete facade who's insecure about everything from his acting ability to his hairline 'though he'd never let anyone know that' and best of all, he allowed me to make fun of acting!" says Carrey of Count Olaf.

Meryl Streep steps into the intrepid shoes of the children's Aunt Josephine. Afraid of using almost all the appliances in her home for fear that they will either explode, electrocute or crush her, Aunt Josephine becomes the comic generator of the film and the perfect victim for Count Olaf's ploy.

"Aunt Josephine is a tremulous little bird of a person who was an adventurer in her youth until something spooked her. I just fell in love with this character who is terrified of absolutely everything, because at a certain level, so am I...so are we all," reasons Streep.

Engaging as the story might be, what really stands out are the otherworldly costume pieces and set designs. Dank old mansions with creepy interiors and a reptile room with two headed cobras on display give the film its charm.

In the timeless and make-believe world of Lemony Snicket, the characters don outlandish, Victorian-looking costumes and live within a time period that's distinctly unplaceable and surreal.

These elements add up to make a deliciously ironical comedy about misfortune, occupying a category all its own. But don't expect this fable to end happily-ever-after, as Lemony Snicket's ominous narrator warns audiences at the start of the film.

"The movie you're about to watch is extremely unpleasant. In this story, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning, and very few happy things in between."

So intriquing and beyond the realms of the imagination, you just have to watch it.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events premiers on March 4th.