REVIEW: Take Another Plunge Down The Rabbit Hole In Alice Through The Looking Glass
The whimsy and colour of Disney’s Wonderland returns once again in sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass.
As we return to Wonderland, the film once again stars Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, however this time around it is directed by…err James Bobbin?
Wait, let me do that math again: Johnny Depp + Helena Bonham Carter = Tim Burton. Is my calculator broken?
Anyway, unlike Alice’s first adventures, this film is directed by Bobbin, which means that Burton’s gothic tones squirm against the bright, psychedelic vision that is Bobbin’s version.
The film sees a much more mature Alice (Mia Wasikowska) slip through the ‘looking glass’, back into the magical world of Underland. When Alice learns that the Hatter is suffering a fatal depression due to the loss of his family, she hastens to turn back time and steal the Chronosphere from Time (Sacha Baron Cohen) – in an effort to change the past.
The story is not exactly original, an eccentric man, his younger friend hell-bent on travelling to the past to change it and a time travelling vehicle that disappears in a flash of lighting. Great Scott! This sounds familiar.
Although Bobbin’s narrative is a little flimsy at times in terms of its uninspired plot twists, the vibrant colours and animated portrayal of the Underland characters really breathes life into this film. There’s plenty of Underland quirkiness, including a pun-filled tea party with Time and the Hatter.
However, what really propels the film is the emotion behind the quirkiness. Bobbins makes use of a lot of close-up shots – which look amazing in 3D – that manage to capture the smallest of facial gestures, one might have otherwise missed.
Sure, the Red Queen has a bulbous head and fowl temper, but it’s the unusual twitch of her lip as she speaks and the occasional sucking in of her cheeks that open up another dimension to her character; she’s mad but there’s something more to her.
The way the Hatter’s mouth rounds as he speaks in a slight lisp adds an element of vulnerability to his character, helping to emphasise an innocent quality behind his madness.
A special mention goes out to Australia’s own Mia Wasikowska, who in the six years since her last ‘Alice’ film has brought a staggering maturity and emotional vulnerability to her character. Her ability to grow with her character makes for a captivating watch, especially when alongside veterans Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.
Ultimately, what the film lacks in narrative, it makes up for in its ability to simultaneously explore whimsy and tenderness in its characters. So that not only are we looking at the magical characters of Underland through the ‘looking glass’ but also afforded a moment to reflect on their humanity.
Alice Through the Looking Glass is released in cinemas nationwide from the 26 May 2016.
Check out the trailer below:
Header via Disney.