A Wrinkle In Time

By: Arlene Allen

A Wrinkle In Time is set to be this year’s second big genre blockbuster. Based on trailers, the movie looks to dazzle visually as it brings the beloved children’s book to the big screen.  Unfortunately, and unlike Black Panther, the dazzle of the film’s visuals and special effects totally overwhelm this slow paced, somewhat draggy script. I could have done with far less giant Oprah Winfrey and far more Storm Reid, who is a delight to watch.

Storm Reid plays Meg Murry, a girl left sullen and bitter after her science professor father (Chris Pine) disappears. She is a loner and social outcast at school. Her younger brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe), the smartest boy in the school, ends up her protector and defender. Schoolmate Calvin (Levi Miller) takes an interest in the feisty Meg and starts spending time with her and Charles Wallace after school. It turns out Calvin has his own issues at home, with a father who verbally abuses him.

Enter Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which. Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) is the first to befriend Charles Wallace and the first to freak Meg out. Mrs. Whatsit is not entirely sure that Meg is “ready,” speaking in rather infuriating riddles. Next, Charles Wallace introduces them to the kindlier Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling), who also seems to be sizing both Meg and Calvin up. Finally, we meet Mrs. Which (overbearingly played by Oprah Winfrey) who tells the kids’ that Mr. Murry is still alive, that all of his scientific formulas were correct and that he was able to travel the galaxy. The “Mrs.” intercepted a message from him meant for his children. The women believe they can move through space and time through means of a tesseract and if the children can gather their courage they can go on the adventure of a lifetime and find their father to bring him home. This is the beginning of a glorious adventure!

The colors of this movie are bright and dazzling. The gowns of the three “Mrs.” are stunning, although Oprah’s giant bejeweled eyebrows are a bit much. Mindy Kaling and Reese Witherspoon are just fine in their roles and I was left wondering why director Ava DuVernay chose to spend so much film time focusing on someone who is in the end a minor character.  The film stays mostly true to the books, although not quite as scary. Fans will be happy to see the Happy Medium played by Zach Galifianakis well as the bizarre Red played by Michael Pena. Chris Pine is scene stealing as Mr. Murry and the subtle, but poignant love story between him and Mrs. Murry (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is one of my favorite touches to the film.

The major star here is Storm Reid as Meg who is so genuine and so natural on camera that she is an utter joy to watch. You are able to feel her emotions, wonderment, fear and loneliness. She has a beautifully expressive face. Deric McCabe is absolutely perfect as Charles Wallace; he nails the role and looks like he’s having the time of his life in this film.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite save the film from feeling overblown in places and it doesn’t do much to save the story from dragging. I found myself wishing things would just speed things along, especially where the Mrs. are concerned. We spend too much time ogling them and all of the cool special effects while the story halts and stalls. It’s also very, very “schmaltzy,” with a whole lot of platitudes to (supposedly) make kids feel better about themselves. I think kids today are a little savvier than they were in 1962, when this book was first published, and I think this adaptation could have used a bit more of an edge. I have loved and still do love the quote, “The Wound Is Where the Light Enters You” (Rumi) for ages and I really wish that I didn’t feel that it almost gets lost in the midst of all of the film’s gaudiness and platitudes.

I have to warn you about the sound throughout the film, which for me was the absolute worst thing about this movie. The swelling music overwhelms the actors’ voices, which were mumbling from the beginning. There were times I may have caught one word in five and times I caught zero words. I don’t think I’ve ever been at a movie that needed close captioning before, but I sure wished for it here.

Perhaps this is just a generational thing, though. My daughter, who is twenty-four years old and has loved this novel since she was a kid, adored the film. She felt it looked just like everything is described in the book, that the majority of the plot is intact and spot on and she loved the emotional tone of the film. The only thing we both agreed on are the incredible performances of Reid, McCabe and Pine (who she says is the “perfect Mr. Murry”).

This is one of those films where you definitely have to see and form your own opinion yourself. I didn’t particularly care for it. It has its moments, but not enough to make up for the movie’s many flaws.