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(Entertaining, innovative Broadway musical)
While many Broadway musicals lose something in their translation to the big screen, Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" benefits by opening …
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* * * *
(Entertaining, innovative Broadway musical)
While many Broadway musicals lose something in their translation to the big screen, Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" benefits by opening up the action and spectacular special effects. We were also impressed with the interpretations of the songs, sung clearly and distinctly so that you could hear and enjoy Sondheim's clever lyrics and rhyming.
The plot is taken from four familiar fairy tales: Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood. Throw in a baker and his wife to help integrate the plots, and you have one delightful movie filled with fascinating characters who don't always do what they did in the original tales.
Meryl Streep as a witch who casts an evil spell on the baker and his wife (James Corden and Emily Blunt) is the catalyst for all things good and evil. She happens to be the mother of Rapunzel, who falls in love with a handsome young prince.
Johnny Depp has a short but impressive role as the wolf who terrorizes poor Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford). Anna Kendrick is great as Cinderella, as is Chris Pine as the Prince.
It is fun to watch the different stories mesh together as the baker and his wife go into the woods to gather four objects belonging to the four fairy tale characters in order to break the witch's spell.
And just when you think the movie is over and they are all going to live "happily ever after,” the witch reminds us that that is not always the case and the movie takes a dark turn. Have no fear though; the characters who make it through to the end bond nicely while reminding us that "no one is alone.”
Great performances, catchy tunes, colorful characters, impressive special effects and a clever story all make this a reason to go see "Into the Woods.”
Rated PG, with a few scenes that may be scary to the very young, plus the reality that not all of the characters may survive.
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