The sweeping martial-arts fantasy "The Forbidden Kingdom" probably will be a smash with 12-year-old boys everywhere. If you're outside that narrow demographic, you may be out of luck.

That's not to say the film doesn't have its charms. The action scenes have verve, the cast is charismatic and the location scenery is spectacular. But the end product feels like old-fashioned kiddie-matinee fare, just on a grander scale.

The movie focuses on Jason, a bullied Boston teen who's fascinated with kung-fu movies. Michael Angarano ("Will & Grace") appealingly plays Jason; he's like Shia LaBeouf without the jokey smugness.

Thanks to a magical staff, Michael is transported back to ancient China. His mission: Get the staff back to its rightful owner, the Monkey King (Jet Li), who is imprisoned in stone.

Much like Dorothy in Oz, Jason gets help from a trio of pals on his journey: Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), a drunken immortal; Golden Sparrow (Yifei Liu), a beauty seeking to avenge her parents' death; and the Silent Monk (Li, doing double duty).

Lavishly filmed in China, the location work is often breathtaking. So are the fight sequences, which seamlessly blend CGI, wirework and athleticism.

The dialogue has some funny, loopy anachronisms: "So, you come here often?" Lu Yan asks when he meets the Silent Monk in a temple. But other moments in the Jim Fusco ("Hidalgo") screenplay barely rise above comic-book level.

The movie's brightest moments come courtesy of Chan, who also plays two roles: the inebriated immortal and Old Hop, a pawnshop owner in Boston. As either character, he has a twinkle in his eye, and his fatherly chemistry with Angarano has sweetness to it.

In fact, if you're in touch with your inner 12-year-old, don't be surprised if you find yourself smiling and cheering during the film's final scenes.

After all, kiddie matinees aren't such a bad thing.