Alice returns to Wonderland to help the Mad Hatter
by traveling back in time to save his doomed family. FAMILY/FANTASY
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Alice Through the
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I remember when this belated sequel came out back in 2016, as well as everyone's immediate dismissal of it. It seemed people had gotten over the creepy whimsical live-action Tim Burton recreation awfully quick, with this film being a total bomb that killed the franchise. However, having now seen it for myself, I must say it isn't really that bad. It has a serious focus problem and the story leaves a lot to be desired, but the CGI is remarkable and the characters are no less enjoyable to watch, even if Johnny Depp is phoning it in for the umpteenth time.
When Alice travels through a looking glass, she once again finds herself in Wonderland (or Underland, I suppose. Don't know why Burton bothered with that one). Her friend the Mad Hatter is despondent and sick, convinced that his family is alive but nobody believes him. To save him, Alice agrees to go back in time and save his family. In order to do that, Alice must confront Time himself, played with delightful ham by Sacha Baron Cohen. What follows is a crazy, unfocused romp through time that of course goes horribly wrong because this is a time travel movie. It's mildly entertaining and full of whimsy, though it never quite feels as genuine as the first film, which wasn't that genuine to begin with. I understand why Disney was reluctant to continue the franchise, though I did find myself liking the film way more than I expected to. I admire the character of Alice Kingsleigh, as she is one of the few female heroines who truly stands on her own merits as a character. They never tried to force a romantic connection, and I like that. Mostly, I think it's Mia Wasikowska's natural charisma and charming screen presence that saved the movie. For me, at least. But see it for yourself if you disagree. My word only means so much. |