MOVIE: A Wrinkle In Time needs a shot of botox

Paul O’Rourke

FROM the director of ‘Selma’ and the writer of ‘Frozen’, Disney Studios bring us a big budget adaptation of a successful science fantasy book. With all these amazing ingredients, what could possibly go wrong? 

The 2018 cinematic version of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ (there was a 2003 TV film of the same name) stars Storm Reid as 13-year-old Meg Murry, whose scientist father disappeared some four years previously in a quest to discover other dimensions. Meg has never given up hope that her dad may still be alive, and when three supernatural beings show up to take her, her brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin across time and space to help find him, she has no alternative but to go. 

The three youngsters find themselves in a trippy psychedelic alternative universe, and aided by their three hippy helpers, Mrs Which (played by Oprah Winfrey), Mrs Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) and Mrs Who (Mindy Kaling), they head off together on an adventure to track down Meg’s father. 

From the very beginning of the story we encounter roadblocks. There’s a scene where two teachers talk about our main character, passing on information about them in a very hamfisted way, a big no-no in scriptwriting. 

And from the moment the three wise extra terrestrial ladies appear you get the feeling you’re watching one long episode of ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’, with little gems of spiritual advice being imparted whether you asked for them or not. 

The magical land the kids travel to isn’t that magical, and although they’re promised to meet many wonderful characters on their journey, they don’t. 

The villain when he’s finally revealed, is completely without threat and more than a little annoying. 

In summary, this film manages to preach and irritate in equal measure and would require a large shot of botox to straighten out the wrinkled script.

The director, Ava DuVernay, is the first African American woman to helm a 100 million dollar budget movie, and so we have reached another equality milestone. It’s not only men who can make blockbuster blunders. Our review score is 1 star.      

Other releases – Tomb Raider – 3 Stars