Into the Woods | Review

If you go down to the woods today… you’ll find A-listers dressed like Game of Thrones extras belting out show tunes. 

The fact that I am a self confessed musical, fairy tale and Meryl Streep enthusiast offers some reasoning to why I found myself watching Into the Woods last week. However, by the time 16 minutes had passed, I knew why I was staying. The first 16 minutes alone is one whole song, interlocking the characters of the story, showing their motives and ‘wishes’. Choral structure has been used previously of course, but the attention and work is evidential when watching this movie.

Into the Woods is a modern twist on several of the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories from Sondheim's classic. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), bratty Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), dimwitted Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone, aka the chirpy peasant from Les Miserables), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy)-all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife (James Corden & Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the desperate witch (Meryl Streep), who has cast a curse on them.

All of their paths lead eventually… into the woods (who would have guessed?), where everything is uncertain, dangerous and exciting. One of the most detrimental things in the wood can be seen in the form of the wolf (Johnny Depp). With his cheap looking pinstriped zoot suit and pipe cleaner- like Salvador Dali whiskers he creeps into the story only for a brief cameo.  The costuming is something that was extremely anticipated in Depp’s character as the costume design legend herself Colleen Atwood (known for designing outfits for Edwards Scissorhands, Sweeny Todd and Alice in Wonderland) crafted it out of laborious creativity. Bearing this in mind, hopes we not reached and the audience were left questioning the 50s style Avery inspired choice of wardrobe. The idea was there, just without the effect intended. Throughout the short encounter with the wolf I couldn't help but laugh at the character and its persona, he couldn’t do much more to bring out the subliminal lasciviousness of the song “Hello, Little Girl”. ‘Creepy’ is a mild way to put it, as he creeps up in a paedophilic manner, all I could think was: ‘why didn’t Depp just stick to Sweeny Todd!?’

Although there is a inevitable fight for the limelight only two clearly claim the spotlight. Meryl Streep. The mere name name should make a smile creep onto your face. The woman can do no wrong and as she channels Tangled’s mother Gothel in a melodramatic hippy way. She is much like the non-villain Maleficent, seen previously last year with Angelina Jolie’s performance of the film named after the heavily cheek-boned protagonist, however, Meryl’s acting out does Jolie’s countless monotone expressions. Streep never wavers from engaging and seeing Blunt and her reunited since Devil wears Prada is a delight.

 The other actor that (surprisingly) made Into the Woods worthwhile appeared in the form of Chris Pine. His Prince Charming “raised to be charming not sincere” portrayal is everything that we have not seen but have subconsciously longed for in a Prince. Although in a way he it is only an extreme version of the one sided Princes we have seen since the dawn of Disney. Nevertheless, his satirical role adds the main level of humour to the story.

The most memorable scene involves Pine and his Rapunzel-loving Brother on top of a waterfall in a battle of voice and self pity. As they splash among the cobbles the realisation sets in, the songs are the back bone of the film. Throughout the film - much like Sweeny Todd - the singing barely wavers. Some could resent this show tune vibe, but to stage lovers- it is great! The songs are everything the stories deserve… catchy, touching and (most importantly) fitting. Never did I think ‘there isn’t a point to this song’, as I do with many musicals. There isn’t much things worse than a generic musical with meaningless songs; shooed in for the sake of it.

As far as happy endings go, the sceptical approach makes this release a tricky fit for the holiday family niche. But Disney should do nicely over the long haul with a classy film that will entertain youth audiences yet contains enough sly humor and narrative complexity to keep adults engaged.  Much like a number of Disney films that have had a more gothic revamp, (to name a few: Snow White and the Huntsman, Maleficent and the upcoming Cinderella) Into the Woods is another regurgitation of a classic; made brilliant by the actors and score, the justice is done to our cherished fables.