Into the Woods

— “Into the Woods” is better than many but not quite wonderful. Sondheim’s music and lyrics are wonderful and Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt are both very good. Rob Marshall’s done his best with it but, somehow, it’s just a little off. I think some of the twists and humor of the original play are missed as a result of cleaning it up a bit for movie and Disney audiences, but that may be okay in a story that really is about the absence of absolutes and the certainty of compromise since these toned-down characters are something of a compromise. Although I’m a little disappointed by the softer ending, I still liked it a lot and would recommend it.

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[2014. 124 min. Directed by Rob Marshall. Starring Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Lilla Crawford, Daniel Huttlestone.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/into-the-woods-2014