Alice Through The Looking Glass review: James Bobin takes the directing reigns from Tim Burton for Disney’s second live-action cinematic outing, adapted from Lewis Carroll’s classic books.
Disney follow-up their huge $1 billion + grossing Alice In Wonderland. Here’s our Alice Through The Looking Glass review.
Alice Through The Looking Glass review
Tim Burton‘s first movie in this series, Alice In Wonderland from 2010 left a bad taste in the mouth for most critics, mine included, but audiences lapped up his adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s book in their millions. The film was a huge gamble for Disney at the time, with the movie apparently costing around $200 million to make, but it returned over $334 million on domestic soil alone, and over $1 billion in total around the world.
A sequel was a given, even though we had to wait nearly six years for it. Alice Through The Looking Glass is positioned a third of the way through a year when the studio are enjoying huge success, following their superb Zootropolis (easily the best film we’ve seen this year), and the recent adaptation of The Jungle Book (not forgetting their other owned properties, Captain America: Civil War and the forthcoming Pixar sequel Finding Dory).
Alice Through The Looking Glass review
Taking over the directing reigns from Tim Burton, who remains on as producer, is The Muppets and The Muppets: Most Wanted helmer James Bobin. If there was anyone who had the chops to take over from such a visionary director such as Burton, it is the the Muppets alumni, and frequent helmer on such TV shows as Flight Of The Conchords and Da Ali G Show. Here Bobin brings on board Ali G himself in Sacha Baron Cohen who plays the character of Time, easily the best thing about the movie, who even manages to upstage a returning Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter. Back in the title role is rather superb Mia Wasikowska, who must return to Wonderland to save the Hatter, who has become even madder in a matter that concerns the fate of his late parents. Seemingly, only Alice can save her old friend, so she turns to Time himself to see if he can help her out. When he warns ger of the dangers of altering the past, she takes matters into her own hands by ‘borrowing’ the Chronosphere, a device that can take you any moment in time gone by.
Alice Through The Looking Glass review
Joining in for some more fun are Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway, who reprise their roles as the warring sisters, the Red Queen and the White Queen, Stephen Fry, who is seen fleetingly as the Cheshire Cat, and Alan Rickman in his final role as Absolem The Caterpillar, who has now transformed into a butterfly, and leads Alice back to Wonderland. There are also appearances from the likes of Matt Lucas as Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Rhys Ifans as Zanik Hightopp, the Mad Hatter’s father and Andrew Scott as Addison Bennett.
What grabs you immediately is Bobin’s impression on the film. A wonderful opening set-piece sets the scene beautifully in the real world, along with some glorious visuals of the iconic Gloucester Docks, the director choosing to use real locations as opposed to grand CGI ones. Of course, once we’re back in Wonderland, we’re on familiar territory although in varying times, which gives as slightly different feel to the overall movie. Depp, whose role is as front and centre as it possible could be is excellent in a role he clearly enjoys to play, as too does Wasikowsa, who relishes the opportunity to play such a strong female role. There are strong turns by Ed Speleers, who we need to see more of in film, and a fleeting extended cameo from Andrew Scott, but it is Sacha Baron Cohen who steals the show as Time, the actor and comedian knocking out a dastardly but delightful turn.
Alice Through The Looking Glass review
Alice Through The Looking Glass does suffer from some of the same issues as it predecessor. It feels slightly over-long, is an absolute onslaught on the senses and almost has too much going on at any one time. That said, I enjoyed it much more than Alice In Wonderland. Lots more.
Johnny Depp and Sacha Baron Cohen are at the top of their game, and when you stand back to try and take it all in, the film actually is much more digestible than Burton’s 2010 film.
A dazzling, delicious, visual treat. No, really.
Alice Through The Looking Glass review by Paul Heath, May 2016.
Alice Through The Looking Glass will be released in UK cinemas from May 27th, 2016.
