Rated PG for fantasy action/peril and some language.
Starring Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter
Directed by James Bobin (Muppets Most Wanted)
There is not a lot of wonder in this new wonderland.
In Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, an all-new spectacular adventure featuring the unforgettable characters from Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories, Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter.
The thing that stands out the most about Alice Through the Looking Glass is the nonstop visual overload. There’s the oversized head and heart-shaped hair of the Red Queen to the odd shaped twins (Tweedledee and Tweedledum). The problem is that everything is so ridiculously artificial and computer generated that it all begins to lose its intended effect and just gets annoying.
Director James Bobin is stepping in for Tim Burton, who brought his warped visual sensibility to the first film and I couldn’t help but think that Bobin felt he needed to outdo Burton.
Mia Wasikowska returns as Alice, who is sweet, likeable and loyal. She’s an admirable person, but not a very interesting one. Playing the short-tempered queen is Bonham Carter. She’s the ultimate mean girl, but her back story really shows things down. Then there’s Depp who has made a career of being weird and playing over-the-top characters. And while the Hatter is no Jack Sparrow, he looks and lives in a completely different world.
Burton had the right idea to sit this one out; it’s a “Coaster”for me.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no sex or nudity. There is no profanity either. There are some scenes depicting peril such as a ship being caught in a storm and a fiery flying dragon chasing after people.
CONVERSATION STARTER:
- What do we learn about the relationship between The Hatter and his father?
- How did that affect him?
- How do they overcome their differences?
- How do you overcome differences when a relationship gets strained or even broken?
- How can you live out this verse this week?
Read Ephesians 4:32
Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.