Into the Woods

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UK Release Date: January 9th 2015

A witch tasks a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree.

Director: Rob Marshall (Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, Pirate of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides)

Starring: Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Daniel Huttlestone, Lilla Crawford, Johnny Depp, Billy Magnussen

Into the Woods is a pleasure to watch. It's oddly fanatical and inspiriting. A roster of A-list celebrities make up the fairytale characters we're all too familiar with, and a story has been made around them. It's charming and fun, with a song or fifty to enjoy or give you a headache depending on your taste for such things. The songs are catchy and sung beautifully, but there's no stopping for breath; one song flows pretty much into the other. The celebrities give all they've got not only in acting but singing as well. Some fair better than others; Johnny Depp is almost embarrassing but Blunt, Streep and Kendrick are a delight. Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen share a gold moment that'll stick above the rest. Fantasy lovers will find a lot to love here; the woods is foreboding and creepy, the creatures, characters and locations adding thick substance and a level of realism. There's plenty for the parents and kids to enjoy, but keep in mind, it's nearly two hours long, so the kid's attention may sway before the end.

3/5