Into the Woods (2014)
Certified: PG
Duration: 124 minutes
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Starring: Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Johnny Depp, Lilla Crawford, MacKenzie Mauzy, Daniel Huttlestone, Tracey Ullman, Christine Baranski, Lucy Punch, Tammy Blanchard
KRS Releasing Ltd

Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s 1987 Broadway musical makes it to the big screen under the Disney banner. Rob Marshall, who has previously delivered the hit musical Chicago, has managed to bring a film that captures the element of magic, musical and fantasy very well.

The Baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) live in a house on the edge of the woods and have long wanted to have a child; but they discover this is not possible due to a curse placed by the Witch (Meryl Streep). She will only lift the curse on condition that from the woods they bring to her: a cape that is as red as blood; hair that is as yellow as corn; a slipper that is golden in its purity; and a cow that is as white as milk.

So the two venture into the woods where there they sell bread to Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), who has the hungry Wolf (Johnny Depp) lying in wait. They meet Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), who wants to meet the Prince (Chris Pine) and who has trouble with her Stepmother (Christine Baranski) and her stepsisters (Lucy Punch and Tammy Blanchard). They also bump into Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy), who has been hidden in the tower by the Witch and is the Baker’s sister – something which he does not know. Then there is Jack (Daniel Huttlestone), who loves his cow but has to sell her even though he gets beans instead of money for her.

Meanwhile, the Prince is looking for his love, the Wolf finds his fate, Jack lets an angry Giant (Frances de la Tour) make his way to the world, and it’s soon high time that everyone realises that wishes have a habit of biting one back when you least expect it.

The mix of Grimm’s fairy tales, the stellar cast and polished production mesh well and the result never takes itself too seriously to be too overwrought about the proceedings. It knows that it is a satire and yet it is respectful of the genre and, in so doing, it emerges to be a much more complete movie.

One of the attractions of this picture is keeping track of all the fairy tale plot lines and see how they converge and interact with each other. This makes for a very different and unusual take on tales that we know so well.

Streep is the film’s star as she literally dominates the screen, whether through the acting or the musical numbers. Pine as the Prince is quite the send-up, while the rest of the cast, especially Kendrick and Blunt, are quite game. The former stands out when it comes to the song numbers. Meanwhile, Depp seems intent on parodying himself as he delivers an unusual performance. Corden is convincing and emits a strong screen presence.

The film has a knowing sense of humour that makes Into the Woods perfect for those in the audience who want something different from the usual Disney princess tales. Instead of pandering to the merchandising gods, the company instead focuses on a delivering a sly and delightful movie that has several unexpected tones to it.