Review: A Wrinkle in Time

Storm Reid & Levi Miller

Director: Ava DuVernay
Screenwriter: Jennifer Lee (based on the novel by Madeline L'Engle)
Starring: Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Chris Pine
MPAA Rating: Rated PG for thematic elements and some peril
Genres: Action & Adventure, Drama, Kids & Family, Science-Fiction & Fantasy
Theatrical Release Date: March 9, 2018
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 42%

 Clip: "This Is Wild"

A Wrinkle in Time is disappointing in many ways yet I couldn't help but be entertained regardless.  Reese Witherspoon's Mrs. Whatsit says that she's "underwhelmed" with Storm Reid's Meg, and one could easily say the same about the film.  Madeline L'Engle's children's novel, on which the movie is based, is a difficult work to adapt for the big screen, although this is often the case with beloved classics such as this.  And, in the more-than-capable hands of Ava DuVernay (Selma, 13th), and a $100+ budget, one would not only hope but expect the film to succeed.  

I wanted to love the movie, and not just because I loved the book -- which I have not read in at least 15 years -- but also because DuVernay's fellow collaborators and other talented directors, such as Black Panther's Ryan Coogler, have praised it.  It's clear that every cent of that massive budget was put to good use, as the visuals are out-of-this-world (pun intended) and the costumes are exquisite.  Narratively, however, the film suffers greatly, as screenwriter Jennifer Lee relies on cliched interactions and the movie's message of love and acceptance -- while important, especially in this day and age -- feels heavy-handed, even in a Disney film (which is the norm).  And, while newcomer Redi is solid in the role of Meg, I found it difficult to root for her as a hero; it seems as though the Mrs. (especially Oprah Winfrey's [literally] larger-than-life Mrs. Which) spend far too much trying to convince Meg to be a hero.  When Meg finally attains hero status, she doesn't so much as embrace it, but unwillingly step into it due to something akin to peer pressure. 

The three Mrs. are really the stars of the show here, as Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling (Mrs. Who), and Oprah's collective enthusiasm are infectious; once they leave the screen and Reid and a lackluster Levi Miller (as Meg's friend/possible love interest) are center stage, the movie nearly falls apart.  Witherspoon, in particular, is quite hilarious, though having her character turn into a flying leaf creature is nowhere near as exciting as it sounds.  For what was meant to be a starring role for Reid, despite her best efforts, it falls short.  She is easily upstaged by Deric McCabe as Meg's precocious younger brother Charles Wallace.  McCabe may have more lines than anyone else in the film, and he delivers them all with a confidence and vivacity that is missing from most of the other characters/actors.  Though, while the kids are meant to be the stars, it's really the adults who shine here.  Besides the three Mrs., Gugu Mbatha-Raw and a bearded Chris Pine, as Meg's parents, are quite good; even though Pine is missing for most of the movie, he makes the most of his screen presence.  

For all its flaws, A Wrinkle in Time can certainly be lauded and applauded for its diverse cast and for presenting a modern family: Meg is biracial, being the offspring of a Caucasian man and an African-American woman, and Meg's brother Charles Wallace was adopted.  But the movie can't rely on the diversity alone.  Unlike Black Panther, which excelled in every aspect (the diversity was icing on the cake, to use a hackneyed expression), DuVernay's film just can't make all the pieces more.  L'Engle's novel isn't exactly long, but Lee attempted to fit way too much into a shorter time frame, perhaps to satisfy younger viewers who can only sit still for so long.         




Grade: C+