‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Movie Review

“My father is alive,” says Meg (Storm Reid). “We believe he is and the only one who can find him is you,” replies Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), a celestial guide who’s going to try to help Meg find her father in Disney’s adventure film, A Wrinkle in Time.

Meg’s an extremely bright middle school student who’s still feeling lost and heartbroken after the strange disappearance of her father five years ago. A brilliant scientist, he claimed he’d found a way to explore the universe using only his mind.

It’s Meg’s little brother, Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe), who introduces her to three celestial guides – Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon), and Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling) – who have come looking for Meg, her brother, and her new friend, Calvin (Levi Miller), in order to help them save the missing scientist. It seems the three guides are going to assist the three children as they travel across the universe to search for, find, and help bring back home Meg’s father (Chris Pine).

A Wrinkle in Time is a science fiction fantasy adventure that’s packed with wonderful messages for children about putting family first and believing in yourself. However, it’s also missing the magic, mystery, wonder, and fun that should be the true spirit of the film. The characters lack any genuinely interesting personalities, and one of the kids who starts off likeable ends up becoming simply annoying.

The pacing of the film is tedious with too much set-up and speeches from the three celestial beings. There’s simply too much time taken with exposition. The celestial guides deliver speeches about the rules and facts of the universe and about the different plants they encounter. This makes what should be an exciting journey into a painfully boring – and long – lecture.

The overuse of CGI and the look and sound of the different planets is unimpressive and unoriginal. In one scene, Mrs. Whatsit says to the children the planet they’re on is her favorite. The planet looks as though they’re out in the green fields and flowers of a countryside. There’s absolutely nothing special or unique to be fascinated by.

Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, directed by Ava DuVernay and adapted from the beloved Madeleine L’Engle novel, is nothing more than a disappointing yawn of a journey to a forgettable land that won’t leave a lasting impression. Read the book…skip the movie.

GRADE: C-

MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements and some peril

Running Time: 1 hour 49 minutes

Release Date: March 9, 2018

A Wrinkle in Time Movie Review
Mindy Kaling, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon in a scene from Disney’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time.’