Film review: Into the Woods
Rob Marshall's relatively faithful Disney adaptation of the 1986 musical show Into the Woods is sophisticated family entertainment. The edgy nature and provocative ethics of the original show's storyline have been preserved, the sets are lush and imaginative, and Meryl Streep's hyperactive, hyperbolic portrayal of a witch is one of the most entertaining screen musical performances ever.
Starring: James Corden, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt
Director: Rob Marshall
Category: l
Rob Marshall's relatively faithful Disney adaptation of the 1986 musical show Into the Woods is sophisticated family entertainment. The edgy nature and provocative ethics of the original show's storyline have been preserved, the sets are lush and imaginative, and Meryl Streep's hyperactive, hyperbolic portrayal of a witch is one of the most entertaining screen musical performances ever.
Stephen Sondheim's songs are equally affecting, especially when compared to the banal sing-along tunes of Frozen and its ilk.
Adapted by James Lapine from his original stage version, the ensemble piece mixes four well-known fairytales ( Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood) with some original matter. The plot revolves around a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) who must retrieve a set of objects from the nearby woods to lift a curse that a witch (Streep) has put on them.
Various other characters inhabit the woods. Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford) is en route to her grandmother's house, Cinderella (Anna Kendrick) is hiding from her prince (Chris Pine), Rapunzel (Mackenzie Mauzy) is locked in her tower, and Jack (Daniel Huttlestone) is trying to sell his cow. Lapine cleverly intertwines the stories, and generates added drama with the arrival of a furious giantess.