Into the Woods, based on the musical by James Lapine - 8.6 out of 10

Into the Woods, based on the musical by James Lapine
8.6 out of 10


If musicals and/or children stories are your cup of tea, then you will love this film...assuming of course that you read this note and then look for it.

Otherwise, the merit of the film would rest with the spectacular cast, led by Emily Blunt, nominated for a Golden Globe and other trophies for this role, and the iconic Meryl Streep, shortlisted for the Oscar and other prizes for her performance.

The latter is an impressive Witch - with rather flamboyant blue hair on my screen - that is in conflict with Emily Blunt aka the Baker's Wife and her husband aka James Corden, who also voices the narrator.

In order to annul a spell, The Witch asks The Baker and his Wife to gather four items, a white cow, a special coat among them, or else have a terrible curse set upon them.
All this involves in incursion into other children stories, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and more.

The cocktail is enticing at times, bold and daring in its take, which would often mean that the characters dispute each other and the result contradicts as it sometimes changes details or all the results of the original plots.

Cinderella is Anna Kendrick in this musical and while she follows many of the details of the initial tale, in this new perspective, she would try some other angles.
For instance, if I remember well, the shoes provided by the good fairy in the first place would get stuck on the stairs, as the protagonist walks - sorry, runs - out of the famous ball.
Here, she has a conversation with herself, on the said staircase, meditating on whether she should leave the shoes behind or take them along.

She decides on giving the prince a clue, which he would use as we know, trying for size the women of the village, including the vicious sisters, somewhat amusing here - I especially like Lucy Punch as Lucinda, for the actress is a favorite of mine.
In their effort to avoid disaster, Baker and Wife cross paths with other stories.

He intends to still the coat from Snow White, a girl with more grit, strength and courage here.
It may be argued that she may have reached the point where she is also a little obnoxious, but the result could be arguably considered a more complex, interesting personage.

She meets the infamous Wolf aka Johnny Depp.
It is again a treat to see this outre, accomplished, creative actor,who can be so different as a perso...in real life he seems devoid of charm and a rather annoying figure.

The Baker is essential in stopping the Wolf's plan eat Snow White.
We have the familiar impersonation of the grandmother.

This no nonsense Snow White is ev more firm in rejecting the Wolf's pretensions.

Why do you have such big ears?!
To hear you better!

She does not say oh, come on!
But it is like we hear her and recognize in her the modern version of adolescence.

If not altos entitled, she is the young person of this age, who can face down adversity.
I guess...

For this cinephile, this genre is generally to be avoided, together with Cartoons, Shrecks and Avengers, even if of the latter, I hear that the critics and the record breaking multitudes that went to cinemas have only superlatives to utter.
Having said that, Into the Woods can be a rewarding film, especially if there is nothing else better on HBO, TNT or any of the many film channels that we can browse through today.