Into the Woods - C+

Meryl Streep as the witch

Rated PG, 125 minutes
Wes's Grade: C+

Fun but overlong “Into the Woods” is for musical-theater fans

The beauty of fairy tales is that they’re usually short and to the point. That isn’t the case with the film version of “Into the Woods,” Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning hit Broadway musical that is a modern twist on several of the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Handsomely filmed, well-performed and mostly a faithful adaptation of the musical, it starts off well but it falls apart in the last act, feeling as if it ever won't end - I mean if you go into the woods you're supposed to eventually come out, right? On that note, the overlong “Into the Woods” should most please those enthusiastic musical-theater aficionados who enjoy singing along but note to those aficionados: this is film - not the musical theater - and what works on stage works differently on screen (and please, sing along at home, not at the movie screen). The movie feels much longer than it really is, and in spite of an energetic cast, particularly a fabulous Meryl Streep, who steals the film. Set in an alternate universe populated with multiple Grimm characters, “Woods” follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), 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 witch (Streep) who has put a curse on them. Directed by Rob Marshall, who helmed the Oscar-winning “Chicago” and the film version of “Nine,” “Into the Woods” is a lively but overlong musical; it’s hardly a modest affair, with elaborate sets, special effects and a star-studded cast, and modestly bland given Sondheim’s dark material. Written by “Woods’” original scribe James Lapine, fans of the musical will note some minor plot and character changes from the stage version, but it doesn’t change the central themes, which remain intact. Marshall and company (i.e. Disney) could’ve in fact cut more to keep the story flowing, and while it worked well on stage, it seems a little redundant, particularly in the much slower second and third acts that hamper the film. The cast could essentially be broken down into two parts: Streep and everyone else. Corden, Blunt and Kendrick blandly ground the film well and give it its heart, but it’s Streep who gives it the blowsy showmanship, coming and (literally) tearing through the screen to quickly become its most memorable character. She continues to be a marvel at what she does, even if her top-notice acting is much better than her singing (she can still carry a tune, she has proved this before), and it would come as no surprise to see her earn more accolades (heck, she already has) for “Woods.” The most pleasant surprise is “Star Trek’s” Chris Pine, who earns his singing and dancing chops here on screen belting out some pleasantries as the Prince, while the biggest disappointment is Johnny Depp, whose appearance as the Big Bad Wolf, while charming, is little more than an extended cameo. Streep is “Woods” drawing card and is the most memorable part of the dark, serviceably entertaining but much too-long musical that goes on longer than Rapunzel’s extensions. 

Opens Christmas Day