"Into the Woods" (2014)

Synopsis:
A Baker and his wife are under a curse by a vengeful witch where they can never have children. In order to reverse the curse, the Baker and his wife must go into the woods to retrieve a cow, a cape, a lock of hair, and a shoe before the third midnight. This film is a twist on classic fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, and Rapunzel.

Review:
This seems to be one of those films that you either like or dislike or it just isn't your cup of tea. I never saw the play in which this film is based upon. So looking at this by itself, I thought this film was pretty good for the most part.

Pros:
It had great performances by Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt and James Corden. I think the actors and actresses made their characters very believable. I am not going to spoil anything but I actually felt sorry for the witch. I like the scenery and the dark tone. It has a very interesting storyline and I liked the connections with all of the fairy tales. Also, the songs are quite catchy.

Cons:
I did not buy Johnny Depp as the Big Bad Wolf. He just did not really seem very believable. Not to mention that he did not really look like a wolf but rather some guy in a Halloween costume. Also, it sort of dragged for longer than it should, and there are a few things in the final act that are a bit ridiculous.

Overall, I enjoyed Into the Woods quite a bit and would recommend it to Disney fans and/or fans of musicals.

In the end, I'll say "Into the Woods" may do a few stupid things, and it may seem like a downer for some folks who are beloved fans of Disney, but it is quite strong and witty and it should be found satisfying as a dark fairy tale romp.

Max Scale:
8/10