A Wrinkle in Time Movie Review

A Wrinkle in Time (2018)

Buy the novel
Written by: Jennifer Lee and Jeff Stockwell (screenplay by), Madeleine L'Engle (based upon the novel by)
Directed by: Ava DuVernay
Starring: Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Levi Miller, Chris Pine, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peña, André Holland
Rated: PG
Watch the trailer 

Plot
After the disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother, and her friend to space in order to find him.

Verdict
Visuals can't carry this story. We're not given anything or anyone about which to care, and this is a plot that's been used way too much. An unpopular and misunderstood kid ends up having great power and determination to save the day. This throws in a few contrived messages, but this movie relies on CGI visuals to a fault.
Skip it.

Review
This is definitely a kids' movie, but Pixar and Phineas and Ferb have proven that content can work on both levels. This takes the usual story of a disenfranchised kid who finds they have great power or responsibility. I've seen this story many times. While it can be, I assume, empowering for kids I don't really get the point.

This reminds me of Tomorrowland (2015),  another movie with a female lead who discovers a magical world, read my review. The two movies have a lot in common, and I liked Tomorrowland quite a bit more. While I've read this book, it's been so long that I didn't remember a thing other than the winged centaur and red eyed face on the cover.

While there are many movies I loved as a kid that I watch now and realize they have problems, there are still parts that stand out despite the flaws I see as an adult. Hook (1991) comes to mind. With A Wrinkle in Time, there weren't any moments that stood out. It doesn't have an emotional anchor. While the visuals are neat, they can't carry a story.

Storm Reid does a fine job as Meg, but Reese Witherspoon seems like a bad actor though I know she isn't. She was phenomenal in Big Little Lies. Mindy Kaling only quotes pop culture. Sure, why not.

Meg's on a journey to save her father. While maligned on Earth, she has power on this fantastical journey that includes classmate Calvin and brother Charles Wallace.
Losing her father as robbed her of all enthusiasm for life, though I'm not sure a principal would be so callous about it.

It just feels impersonal. Meg realizes bullies have their own problems and how strong love is, but it just feels trite. It's one of those movies where it feels like the writer was going down a checklist of what needed to be in the movie without actually crafting a story.