Into The Woods Movie Review

Disney’s newest conquest is Into the Woods a Broadway Musical that is highly acclaimed and very well done. I must admit, I’m not the biggest fan of musicals, but this one is really outstanding. The costumes are amazing, the talent is amazing, and the singing is above and beyond amazing. I was lucky enough to see the movie with the actors that were in the movie and watch a Q&A with them.

The talent at the screening included:

· Meryl Streep (“The Witch”)
· James Corden (“The Baker”)
· Emily Blunt (“The Baker’s Wife”)  
· Anna Kendrick (“Cinderella”)
· Chris Pine (“Cinderella’s Prince”)
· Christine Baranski (“Cinderella’s Stepmother”)
· Tracey Ullman (“Jack’s Mother”)
· Rob Marshall (Director)
· James Lapine (Screenwriter)
· Marc Platt (Producer)
· John Deluca (Producer)
· Colleen Atwood (Costume Designer)
· Dion Beebe (Cinematographer)

In an interview after the movie screening Chris Pine said it was his first time to actually see the movie completed. And he was very pleased with the final product as was I.

Into The Woods begins with Cinderella singing I wish and then we see Jack and The baker and his wife also singing I wish. The way it goes from one person to another person singing sharing the story of these different families wanting more really sets up act one of the musical.

“Into the Woods” is a modern twist on several beloved fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy), all tied together by an original story involving a Baker and his Wife (James Corden and Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the Witch (Meryl Streep), who has put a curse on them.  

The Witch who is the star of the movie in my opinion finds the Baker and the Baker’s wife and tells them about a curse on their house and asks them to help her break the curse in return promising them the child they want more than anything. Meryl is amazing at singing as she sings the entire reason for the curse. They agree to help her break the curse because they want a baby. Off they go on the musical adventure Into The Woods.

Everything about this movie is beautiful to look at. The scenes like the forest, the castle, the tower are all outstanding. The singing talent are all belting it and so passionate and hysterical at times as the songs are poking fun at what we think Fairy Tales should be. Anna Kendrick sings her heart out as Cinderella.  This movie is deep, because in one way it’s all about everyone getting their wish, in another way it’s about parenting. How does Cinderella make a choice with the guidance she grew up with from an unloving step mom? How does the Baker choose to be a dad with a dad that abandoned him at the first sign of trouble and how does Rapunzel decide to leave her evil mom even though she really does love her mom. And honestly I’m not being as deep as it can be, really what you can take away from Into the Woods is that you are not alone no matter what you grew up with or how you feel.

Into the Woods” premiered on Broadway on November 5, 1987, at the Martin Beck Theatre. The production, which ran for 764 performances, won Tony® Awards for Best Score, Best Book of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical. Among other awards, the musical received five Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical. “Into the Woods” has been produced around the world, including a 1988 U.S. tour, a 1990 West End production and Broadway and London revivals, in addition to a PBS television production and a 10-year-anniversary concert

Into The Woods will be in theaters on Christmas Day!