You might have gathered from the name of my blog that I like fairy tales.
As a mommy, I loved reading fairy tales to my daughters. We were big bedtime story-ers at our house. When Brennyn and Lauren were really little, they shared bedtime and bedtime stories. But at some point in elementary school, Brennyn asked to be able to stay up later than her little sister. I agreed that she could stay up 30 minutes later which meant that each girl would have their own story at their separate bedtime. So some nights we had a double dose of fairy tales at our house.
As a librarian, I loved reading fairy tales to my students. Introducing them (and myself) to new or fractured versions of the folk tales most children these days only know through Disney movies. Some of my favorite lesson plans and activities in the library were the ones I designed for teaching folktales.
And after kissing more than my fair share of frogs, keeping house for almost as many husbands as Snow White had dwarfs and working day and night for a time like Cinderella before she met her fairy god mother, I am finally living my own fairy tale.
Over the Christmas holidays, a lot of great movies came out and one of them seemed to be right up my alley, make that my yellow brick road…
A fairy tale smorgasbord with an all-star cast and a musical to boot, what’s not to love.
On New Year’s Eve my honey-hubs and I dressed up for dinner out and an early movie. We had gift certificates for the restaurant we chose and for Fandango tickets purchased online for the movie. So our date was almost free. At dinner I indulged in two Margaritas, so was a little giggly (ok, a lot giggly) when we got to the theater. Paul had two Long Island iced teas and was a bit giggly himself.
The first minutes into the movie, I began thinking Into the Woods was going to be my new favorite flick. I love me some Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Johnny Depp and can tolerate Anna Kendrick. I figured this all-star cast of some my personal favs acting in a musical fairy tale would just seal the deal.
I began daydreaming of taking my granddaughter Cady to see the movie.
I thought of ways I could write new lesson plans around the movie.
I loved the way different fairy tales and a variety of fairy tale characters were combined in this story – a Sleeping Beauty of sorts, Cinderella, Little Red, the wolf, the witch, a fairy god mother, Rapunzel, Prince Charming, Jack (from beanstalk fame) and his mother and their cow. A baker and his wife who long for a child of their own (reminiscent of the gingerbread boy tale). All seeking something missing from their lives. I was loving it!!
And then the beanstalk snapped and I fell back to Earth.
The songs in the movie started feeling forced and sounding a whole lot the same. Kind of like one chorus after another of the same long song. And the movie seemed to drone on and on. At one point, Cinderella meets her Prince and together they latch onto their happily ever after. Everyone is rejoicing on the grounds of the castle – and in my opinion, that’s when the curtain should have come down.
THE END.
But instead, we have Act II where everything falls apart. The characters all wake up on the wrong side of the bed or wake up to a rainy day…whatever the case, the tone changes, everyone’s happily ever after seems out of reach and perhaps in some cases, wisely so. And the movie moves into a darker place, into the shadows.
I start thinking that maybe it isn’t a happily ever after fairy tale, and maybe it isn’t appropriate for 4 year old Cady who recently pronounced Disney’s Sleeping Beauty “too ‘pooky” = too spooky, Cady has trouble with S’s. And on a side note, maybe it is a good thing I am retired because now I don’t have to worry about writing lesson plans any more…about fairy tales or anything else.
I think when Into the Woods comes out on DVD or Netflix, I will watch it again. I will be more aware of what to expect and won’t try to make this movie something it isn’t – a sweet bedtime story with a happy ending for all. And next time I watch it, I want POPCORN.
On New Year’s Eve, my daughter Brennyn and son-in-law Corey video-taped Cady telling her version of Jack and the Bean Cock. Remember, Cady has trouble with S’s. I watched it before Paul and I went out on our date.
Now this is the real deal right here, folks.
A real princess!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvcMAxYWtkk&feature=youtu.be
Happy new year!
Hugs and sticky kisses,
Sarah C
Thanks for the review. I wanted to see this, but might just wait for it to come on video. Cutest video!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey Sarah,
Thanks for coming by! I want to see the movie again but at home where I can put on my closed caption and rewind and fast forward. I am a little slow at times on the uptake or processing when I read, hear jokes, or watch TV and movies and like to see them a second time so I can totally get the punchline, hear the lyrics, enjoy the affects. Hope if you rent it you will enjoy it.
Brennyn
What a darling baby! I bet she gets that drama from her Grandmother. Anywho, is this movie, what Cady would call, a “baby movie”?
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Bren, thanks for your comments. I happen to know that baby’s grandmother personally and she is not the least bit dramatic. Not sure about that baby’s mother though. I am thinking maybe this is only a ‘baby movie’ at home where you can fast forward through the ‘pooky parts.
Laurie
Happy New Year Leslie. Great review! My daughter and I went to see this last weekend for many of the same reasons you mentioned, although I am not a teacher; I loved the fairy tales as a kid and we read them during our nightly story times. I totally agree on your assessment of the film, the first act was clever with how they wove the tales together and the bits of humor made it work. ( however the wolf and red riding hood scenes were a bit much, but that’s what I expect from Johnny Depp). The second act was dreadful and just droned on and on. After reading the reviews from other movie goers and the critics, I think it hit the note they intended. But, It wasn’t at all what I expected and I think I need to be better about reading reviews prior to purchasing the ticket. I’ll probably watch it again when it comes out on Netflix especially since I understand what to expect.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hi Laurie,
Thank you for your great comments. And for confirming my views about the movie. I wanted to like this movie so badly and I think Paul did, too. And maybe the second time I will like it even better. As I explained to Sarah in a reply to her comment, I can be a little slow on the uptake with jokes, gags, and at times I felt that way watching Into the Woods. So my opinion might change once I see the movie at home (with popcorn) and closed captions. I didn’t read a lot of reviews (actually any) before seeing the movie…my hubby always goes to Rotten Tomatoes to see what the tomato meter reports about every movie. And this one was rated pretty high. I was not expecting a commentary on society or our world. Left me feeling a little sad (but singing).
metra roberts
Thank you for review! I, too will be waiting for $1 redox rental (if even then). I love traditional fairy tales four certain, but had reservations about the mashup of tales from previews with this one.
Love your sweet cadycoo! And especially her enthusiastic description of “Jack and the bean cock”. She’s a dollbaby!
Xoxo
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh,thank you for coming by!!! Please do, do, do watch the movie on Redbox! I feel bad if I discouraged people from going…but it just wasn’t what I was hoping for. Thank you for loving my Cadycoo. I love her big fast, too. She has a flair for the dramatic in deed. I know you are missing your baby girl tonight but so glad she was home for such a nice, long visit. Love you! XO
metra roberts
I swear I’m not dyslexic or illiterate. For sure fat fingered though…ugh…
(Redbox and for certain!! Not four certain…) hahaha
Lana
I totally agree – if you aren’t prepared for how the story goes, it would be disappointing. But having seen and loved the musical, I thought they did a pretty good job. It did drone on a bit, and I think it’s probably too scary for the littlest viewers. Your video was much more adorable – precious!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Lana, thank you for your sweet compliment about my very own princess, Miss Cady. She is a doll baby, if I do say so myself!
Sharon
I thought you were going to see Wild on New Years so Im really lost friend. 🙂 Glad you had a fun giggly night even if the movie was a bit long and crazy. Cady Coo is precious! XO
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Dear Sharon, you aren’t lost. We were going to see either Wild or Into the Woods depending on how long it took us to eat. We got in and out pretty quickly at the restaurant so Into the Woods was showing earlier. We went with that. It was a really giggly night and I sang to every song in the movie, even without knowing the words!! Two Margaritas in a big night for me. Love my Cady. Thank you for your sweet words. XO
Joy C.
What a sweet little gal. Thank you for sharing your movie review!!