I saw this movie finally tonight in Auburn Hills MI, the crowd was generally young - around my age, probably (young college age adults) i don't think there was a single child in the crowd. The whole feeling in the room was pretty tense, and toward the beginning I felt like the room wasn't loving the show, but that happens at most movies I've ever been to, you get more comfortable laughing and crying as the movie goes on.
As for the film, I thought it was terrific. I did not go into this lightly, I've loved it since I was a freshman in high school, so for 8 years I've had the OBCR and have never enjoyed a cast as much as the original, and have scarcely loved a musical as much as this one, it spoke to me so deeply even at the age of 14. There were some mild annoyances since I know the material so well, but for the most part the cuts that were made to the material I didn't miss greatly and sometimes felt it helped the story. The one appearance of the Baker's Father made sense to me (as it was obviously in his mind), and because of all the things that had immediately preceded it I was weeping at the same time as the Baker, and I agree with someone on this board (can't recall who) that said the addition of the song No More may have pushed me past a breaking point, so I'm content that it wasn't included for dramaturgical reasons. I didn't even miss the Mysterious Man whatsoever as I thought I might.
One of my annoyances were some of their costumes. In the course of the film, I ended up finding Jack's and the Wolf's costumes wholly preposterous (Jack looked like he was wearing Gucci couture and the Wolf just looked ridiculous the few minutes he was on screen). For some reason the Baker's pants I also found inappropriate (for a baker, that is).
Like many people have said, I agree that Emily Blunt as the Baker's Wife was absolutely splendid the entire time she was onscreen. She made me truly feel towards the character as the leading lady of the piece, which I don't think I've ever thought of the character until today. Joanna Gleason, as everyone knows, was terrific in a pretty dully written character, and she certainly brought her to life. But even in the original production, I felt she was kind of an excuse for a Leading Actress in a Musical (and always felt Patti was robbed of the Tony that year) since the Witch didn't have enough material. But the film really made me believe this WAS her story, and that all these fairytale characters she meets in the woods were ones she stumbled across on her quest. I would have applauded her in the theater if my boyfriend would have let me. I hope she wins SOME award for her wonderful performance.
Meryl Streep was also terrific in a role I doubted she should have playing, simply due to her age and nothing to do with the talent she possesses (which I feel she is mostly unsurpassed by any actresses currently living). She usually made me forget all about Bernadette Peters, which I didn't expect to happen. Plus, I loved her blue hair. Some people have said they didn't like her death being so specific; i thought it was a great idea to have them use that tar to trap the lady giant. Kind of like she helped them out after all. Something like that.
The Princes I thought were very good, although underused. I agree that Chris Pine sings kind of like an old man, but I found him still to be charming (and I overheard a lady in the audience saying she wouldn't mind getting lost in HIS woods, which was hilarious and nonsensical but I don't disagree with her). Agony was a highlight and another moment in which I would have applauded.
Hello, Little Girl. It's a scene that, in the musical, I've usually never found it to be very offensive or even very noteworthy. In the film, I was so creeped out that I wanted to kill Johnny Depp myself. And I thought it worked immensely, in terms of the point of the character. So, good job to them for creeping me out. I also thought Red going into his stomach was hilarious, it reminded me of an Alice acid trip or something.
The suddenly-nine months pregnant Wife made me laugh out loud, and then when she was thanking Cinderella at the wedding, I thought she might as well have just said out loud "Your shoe got us pregnant!"
Anna Kendrick (whom I have loved greatly through most of her film career) underwhelmed me slightly, only in that she seemed (and has seemed in other roles, either to her benefit or detriment) to be holding herself back emotionally. This lady will not let us see her cry, she is too strong for that. That said, her performance of On the Steps of the Palace is maybe my favorite ever, and I love how she belts the last note.
I had no problem with the children. I thought Lilla was sometimes funny, and Daniel sometimes adorable. Neither one of them greatly excited me, but those characters never have in the past. I admired their performances mostly during No One Is Alone, the entire scene I thought was incredibly well done (although awkwardly cut-off).
James Corden was thoroughly charming the entire film.
The ending with Children Will Listen, I thought was a little strangely done. As someone else said, it may have been better if they had brought the ghosts back as they do in the play.
Now that I've reviewed the whole thing, I realize that I said it was terrific at the very top although I now realize many things in it caught my attention in ways I didn't want. But I really think that, despite the qualms (which I expected), it really is a well-made film. It's better when looked at as a whole than at each part. As I sat in the theater at the credits, I was so pleased with the whole thing. And I'm glad.
A person said as they were leaving "Yeah, I've always thought act 2 was boring as $#!*" They didn't understand (as I feel many in America, judging by every critic saying the end is the worst part and they should have faded to black sooner) that the end is the whole point. Sometimes life gives you a lot of bad stuff to deal with. You have to move on. You aren't alone and there will always be someone there to help you along the way. I don't want an Into the Woods without an Act 2, because it robs the whole thing of its heart. I applaud Rob Marshall for making a terrific entry into the musical movie catalogue.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
.jpg?format=auto&width=365)
