“Alice in Wonderland”

film review

2010

Rated: PG

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen and Alan Rickman

Even with all of the negative reviews “Alice in Wonderland” kept receiving, I just couldn’t believe that it could possibly be so bad. With Tim Burton using one of the most beloved drug-induced children’s books to create a mystical, magical environment of craziness for Johnny Depp to run around in, what could not work? Well, I hate to say it but somehow, even with Burton’s ability to transform cinema into gorgeous wonderlands of epic proportions (“Edward Scissorhands”), and Depp’s committed ease into intriguing characters (in every sense of the word, a la “Pirates of the Caribbean”), something falls flat with this outing.

“Alice in Wonderland” is not quite as horrible as some are exploding and ranting about, and it scored a No. 1 position at the box office for its second weekend, already grossing more than $200 million.

Burton’s new take on an old classic combines the familiar story we know with one that we are not aware of, which creates some issues in the script and the basic plotline that hinder the entire film.

Alice (Wasikowska) is now 19 years old and pretty miserable with her existence since the death of her father, something her shrill mother does not even want mentioned in her presence. The two travel to a party nearby where she meets up with the dreadful Hamish (Leo Bill), who other than wealth is not a great catch—he blows his nose and stares at the waste in his handkerchief.

Hamish has set up the entire event as the two’s engagement party, and Alice, who has not accepted a proposal finds this idea to be absurd. When the question is popped, she takes a moment to step away and follows a white rabbit into a rabbit hole. The sequence of her entering Wonderland is practically identical to the cartoon Disney version.

The trick with Linda Woolverton’s story is that our heroine has visited this realm of mystery before, and we’ve seen a young Alice tell her father about a dream of “Underland.” She’s concerned that the dream is so wacky that she’s gone mad, but he assures her, only those worth anything are a little crazy.

She takes this sentiment to heart, and though she’s met these characters before, she does not really remember and is determined she is in a dream and will wake up soon. Since Alice is not too worried about her livelihood in the dream state, the audience feels no tension either and the suspense ultimately is lost.

Watching the film is still somewhat enjoyable with Burton’s signature stylized direction and scenery. And sure, “Alice in Wonderland” is supposed to be weird and not make the most sense, but aren’t we supposed to care about the members of this land too?

Depp’s Mad Hatter is fun to see, and he plays it with gusto, including a new back story, perhaps for character development, that doesn’t really pan out. How did the Mad Hatter get his name? You will find out, but do we need to know? Probably not.

Some are having a hard time with Carter’s performance, but I thought her saucy, big-headed queen fit the Queen of Hearts pretty well. Hathaway’s version of the White Queen was a little annoying and over-the-top though. Again, it’s supposed to be over-the-top, I know, but something did not click. The best scenes were between either Alice and Hatter or Queen and Hatter, because yes, Depp pulls the flick out of the trenches to a certain degree.

Lewis Carroll’s original novel follows a young girl into a dream-like land of wonder with every emotion bottled up inside. She has a boisterous time with the Mad Hatter and Hare, is perplexed by the Blue Caterpiller and terrified of the wicked “off-with-their-heads” Queen of Hearts. These characters all make appearances in Burton’s adaptation, but the emotion and heart are completely lost.

How can you be bored in Wonderland? I’m not sure, but I was. How can you not be a little nervous of the Queen of Hearts? Again, I wasn’t. Carroll’s story, though nuts-o and not meant for a literal and realistic interpretation, had a sentimental core that the 2010 release lacks.

And the fact that Woolverton’s script seems to be a large deterrent from potential “Alice” greatness is upsetting after exploring her resume. She wrote for mega Disney films like “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast,” as well as the live-action “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” and an episode of my personal favorite ‘90s Disney cartoon, “Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers.”

So what happened?

Kind of like “Avatar,” go for the spectacle and wonderment of the visual settings—not the heart and soul of its story. But at least “Avatar” did have amazing 3D visuals, while these could possibly be skipped for a 2D take.