www.disney.co.uk/AliceInWonderland
Certificate – PG; 108mins
Released – March 5th 2010 (UK)
Directed – Tim Burton
Starring – Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Michael Sheen, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas, Alan Rickman
Every seasoned cinema-goer is no doubt fully aware of such idiosyncrasy and succinct casting by one Tim Burton. Every child is raised with some knowledge, however extensive, of Lewis Carroll’s dark tales of Alice and her adventures in Wonderland.
Whilst Alice In Wonderland is undeniably Burton-esque, the seeping, monotonous, drivel churned out by the corporate drudge of Disney unashamedly puts a dampener on what should theoretically be one of the greatest 3D experiences of 2010. Instead of tempting an audience to the edge of their seats in sheer delight, they are dragged into a false sense of hope that, at any moment, something wonderful and ethereal is going to happen, which will make the effort worth their while.
What fails Burton in lieu of the expectant over-Disneyfied bunkum, is Linda Woolverton’s re-imagining and revisiting of Wonderland when Alice (newcomer Mia Wasikowska) is in her teens. Ultimately, the illustrious title gives far too much in the way of expectation and wholesomely fails to outline that this is not Alice In Wonderland, it is emblematic of what younger generations believe it to be. In being so, we find it to be a lazy, vapid take on a childhood classic that most of us have known and loved.
This crowded, muddy interpretation has sullied a routinely stellar project by a lauded, quirky, visionary and has already found even the greatest of fans leave with their heads bowed in an awkward shame. So too have the otherwise faultless performances from such a popular cast been overshadowed by a heavy, almost pointless venture.
Though it pains to say all this, even setting out with low expectations, it is difficult to understand just how appallingly tragic the film feels. For all it’s comedy, big names and great performances as well signature, picture-perfect special effects and Danny Elfman’s soundful delights, it feels flat. The ambiguity of some of the original characters, partucularly the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry) have been cast aside in favour of quick lines to tie up the narrative knots, but are blatant to those who know the original story.
For all it’s failings, a few things beyond performance shone through; The costumes (particularly Alice’s) were stylish and didactic and worked well in contrast to the artistic conception of the sets. In true Burton style, the atmosphere was generally dark with his trademark feel-good factor licking at core. Everyone has come to expect good things from our peculiar auteur and credit where it’s due, he has achieved another notch on his unorthodox belt, however, the bitter pill appears to be in the shape of a giant, curvy, letter ‘D’ and it’s not that easy to swallow.
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