MOVIE REVIEW- A WRINKLE IN TIME

 A Wrinkle in Time- ** ( out of four stars).


I saw the new Disney movie, A Wrinkle in Time, last night in King of Prussia. Here are my thoughts...

- I was surprised that the theater was only slightly half-filled. For a Friday night, early show, I expected it to  more people, especially kids.  Maybe most were still checking out Black Panther?

- A Wrinkle in Time is a freaky movie, a mash-up of Avatar, Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz and The Exorcist. The movie stars Oprah Winfrey as a "warrior" spirit that roams the universe doing good and seeking justice and light. In other words, Oprah is playing a God-like being, much like in real-life.

Reese Witherspoon also stars, playing another spirit, this one a bit ditzy but pleasant. She doesn't take the role too over-the-top, like a Glenda the Good Witch of Wizard of Oz fame. As with most of this movie, she could've done more with the role.

The movie makes sense later on as two children ( plus a companion-friend) search the universe for the kids' missing father, who happens to be a scientist who has discovered the secrets to the universe and travelling between dimensions and over time.

Oprah is a giant 80-foot spirit most of the time, her hair and costumes changing, depending on location and what planet she happens to be on. She also wears silver sparkles on her lips, as if she took a bite out of a powdered doughnut. Oprah is very regal here, giving wisdom at every turn. This entire production reeks Oprah. The little girl even looks like a young Oprah. The references to Maya Angelou, the almost religious-like tones, and the entire themes  have Oprah's fingerprints on them. It's Disney, and the story comes form a book published back in 1962, but Oprah has that much power.

I didn't like when the movie sunk into a demonic, Exorcist-like, dark side in the latter half of the film. The first half build-up seemed too forced and contrived. There isn't much humor, either.

A Wrinkle in Time has good special effects, but nothing special that hasn't been seen before ( such as the Avatar-like flying scene) or done better. It was an OK movie, an adventure or sci-fi flick, especially for kids, but with haunting and dark themes, and life lessons bout things like bullying and jealousy. There's also a "there's no place like home" morale to the whole story, which reminded me of The Wizard of Oz ( just not as good). I didn't care about the characters that much as in oz, even when the story gets sentimental and corny.

I give it two stars. It should do well. After all, it's Disney and it's Oprah, and, aside for Black Panther, there isn't that much out there now. Maybe that explains why the blockbuster movie wasn't released around Christmas or even over the summer, when kids' blockbusters are normally popular.