A Wrinkle in Time (2018)

A Wrinkle in Time (2018)

2018 PG

Adventure | Science Fiction | Family | Fantasy

After the disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother, and her friend to space in order to find him.

Overall Rating

5 / 10
Verdict: So-So

User Review

  • A Wrinkle In Time wrinkles away in a timely fashion. One of my most anticipated of the year ultimately becomes one of the most disappointing. Whether it be studio interference from Disney or source material too complex to adapt, this film fell flat and left me underwhelmed. A bold scientist suddenly disappears as he attempts to discover an alternate reality, four years later his daughter and son become embroiled in a rescue mission which in turn becomes a quest to save the universe. Adapting the unadaptable will gain praise from me, just for the sheer bravery and boldness of such an attempt. But in hindsight some stories just cannot be adapted cinematically, this is one of them. The technical aspects are the selling point, fantasy worlds filled with bright vibrant colours and imaginative environments. A rather surreal experience with many ethereal scenes, such as the process of "tessering". It maintained my interest through visual awe and delight. DuVernay's direction is splendid and surprisingly makes the transition from powerful dramas to big budget blockbusters effortlessly. The acting was solid, particularly Pine who brings some much needed emotion and Winfrey whose physical prowess portrays a commanding character. The major issues I have inherently come from the screenplay and narrative. The dialogue is consistently filled with exposition, leaving little room for backstory and character development. It's purely focussing on universe-building and crafting creative landscapes, a minimal amount of attention was made to creating a cohesive plot. I mean honestly, many aspects were incomprehensible as it leaves you questioning "what the hell is going on!? How did that happen? Why is he there? Who are these Mrs's beings?" The countless lingering plot holes will infuriate older audiences, whilst the complicated narrative is too advanced for younger viewers. The theme of love is dealt heavy handedly that it left me face palming myself. This is no means a horrific film, with some being slightly too harsh. Technically astute, however it's just unfortunate that it's a wrinkling mess.