So much potential gone to waste

This movie had so much potential and the acting (while very cheesy and cliched) was solid for the most part. However, I have a few observations about this movie:

- The 2 leads are woefully untrustworthy. Seriously, both of them have been best friends since they were toddlers. Yet, when placed in situations that test this, they would flip flop on this on a whim. The Sophie character is particularly naive in this regard. Trusting someone you don't know over a person you've known for the better part of a decade and a half is more than a suspension of disbelief.

- It is trying to be many movies at once. Obvious inspirations include the Harry Potter Franchise, Snow White And The Hunstman (also starring Charlize Theron), Maleficent and The Chronicles Of Narnia. The aesthetics alone are heavily reminiscent of Hogwarts.

- The movie is full of mixed messages for impressionable viewers. This school of good indoctrinates its students with shallow amoral beliefs ergo, defeating the purpose of the school in question.

- Much of the characters don't seem to be able to think for themselves given the tight nature of the rules they subscribe to. This is the epitome of NPC behavior.

- The movies runtime was very bloated at a staggering 2 and a half hours. I can understand a movie of this length if the story has been carefully executed with fleshed out characters.