Alice Through the Looking Glass is coming (May 27th, 2016) and it’s bringing all the original tea party guests with it—including Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter—as well as new party guest, Sacha Baron Cohen! What a delightful scamp!
Firstly, may I say, I’m a huge Tim Burton fan. His capability to tap my id is nearly unmatched—at least with his earlier works. Lately, however, I’d be quite remiss if I didn’t admit that I’ve been leaving the theater after one his films feeling like I’d seen something visually lush but rather packed with empty calories. Admittedly, I’ve been skipping a few lately—but since Mars Attacks! I’ve most enjoyed Sweeney Todd and Dark Shadows. Taken as a whole, it seems that some of his child-like wonder for the endearing macabre has been replaced by. . . a sense of duty to producers or investors? The struggle with his own id played out before us on screen as it was pacified and validated—no longer feeling quite so urgent and raw. Meaning, I’m thrilled with reports from the rumor mill regarding a Beetlejuice sequel as much as I am worried.
So it is that I have rather mixed feelings regarding the upcoming Alice Through the Looking Glass being directed by James Bobin (Da Ali G Show, Flight of the Conchords, The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted) rather than Tim Burton. Bobin’s work is largely successfully amusing. My first reaction, given Bobin’s directorial efforts thus far, is that he’s sure to hit the silly and senseless tone of the first film perfectly—this is also my regret. There was something real and genuine in tone that was missing from Alice in Wonderland, something that kept me from connecting with it as much I hoped to—something that I fear only Tim Burton can provide when he’s on his game, like Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice. Maybe I was younger then and it is I who has lost the child-like wonder for the endearing macabre? Oh, man; I hope not.
On the other hand, maybe it’s writer Linda Woolverton (returning for the sequel) that shoulders some of this burden? She hasn’t yet been able to reach out of the kid zone of stories that don’t end up appealing to anyone over 12—Maleficent being the one real chance and, much as I enjoyed watching it, it still felt a bit empty. Perhaps producer, Joe Roth comes into play here. Of his films, Snow White and the Huntsman is the one I may have enjoyed most—and, while I know this admittance just produced a lot of groans, looking over his resume I find a lot of films I’ve skipped or submitted to only after finding that my first two choices were sold out.
Now, could I do any better? Maybe not but I’d sure as hell try, given the chance—let’s hope this team is feeling the same way.
So it may just be that we’re in for a sequel that lands much as the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels did—rather thuddish, entertainment-wise—but here’s hoping it’s something far grander that captures a wonder and the deserved adoration that the original animated Alice in Wonderland did.