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The Dresden Files

 (Series -- Sun. Jan. 21, 9 p.m.)

By BRIAN LOWRY

'The Dresden Files'

Filmed in Toronto by Lionsgate. Executive producers, David Simkins, Robert Wolfe, Nicolas Cage, Norm Golightly; director, Michael Robison; writer, Peter Egan.
 
Harry Dresden - Paul Blackthorne
Lt. Connie Murphy - Valerie Cruz
Bob - Terrence Mann
 

Mix a grown-up Harry Potter with a few sprinkles of "The X-Files" and abracadabra, you have this diverting Sci Fi Channel series about a modern wizard/detective casting spells in the Windy City. Based on the novels by Jim Butcher, "The Dresden Files" has an intriguing lead in Paul Blackthorne (last seen matching wits with Jack Bauer in "24") and one of those lighter-than-air premises that holds together provided one doesn't think too hard about it. Silly in places, series nevertheless fits nicely alongside other potions and tonics in the basic cabler's pantry.

Harry Dresden (Blackthorne) has the "gift." Whatever that is, it's not the kind that spares him the indignity of advertising his services in the local phone book. As support systems go, his is somewhat unusual, involving a snippy Chicago cop (Valerie Cruz) who periodically enlists his detective services and the spirit of a medieval alchemist whom Harry somewhat incongruously calls "Bob" (Terrence Mann).

Although quick to dismiss threats as not of the magical variety, the premiere finds Harry trying to protect a young boy who not only sees monsters in the closet but, lo and behold, clearly has some badass demon circling him.

Subsequent plots fit fairly comfortably into that "Night Stalker"/"X-Files" vein, such as the lingering spirit of a dead girl and a murderer who can jump from body to body.

Flashbacks to Harry's youth notwithstanding, the show's basic mythology remains fuzzy through the first two episodes. Additional details and characters regarding a high council governing wizardly practitioners are promised in future episodes, but frankly, the way "Bewitched" handled things -- where witches and warlocks operated under a certain code vis-a-vis mortals -- made more sense than this does thus far.

Nevertheless, Blackthorne brings a nice mixture of disheveled big-city detective and eyebrow-arching sorcerer to the role, and the episodes are modestly spooky without being especially grim. The one device that feels overly contrived is Harry's ghostly sidekick, although Mann is a good enough actor to at least keep that bit of excess relatively fun via his droll delivery.

For Sci Fi, "Dresden Files" represents a sort-of procedural, the kind of undemanding hocus-pocus that goes down easy. And if the series (whose producer team includes Nicolas Cage) doesn't generate any grand creative magic, it at least possesses a certain old-fashioned charm likely to play well in this world and maybe even the next one.

Camera, Alwyn J. Kumst; editor, Jean Coulombe; music, Robert J. Kral; production designer, Franco de Cotiis; casting, Julie Tucker, Lisa Parasyn. Running time: 60 MIN.