Opening in theaters on Friday, May 27 is Alice Through the Looking Glass, the latest adaptation of one of Lewis Carroll’s beloved novels. Let’s follow the white rabbit as we join Alice in her latest adventure to discover this story’s appeal to you and your family.
Alice Through the Looking Glass follows the Tim Burton adaptation of Alice In Wonderland that was released in 2010. Even if you missed this earlier Alice adaptation, you are likely already familiar with the classic children’s story. If you are not, we recommend checking out the 1951 animated classic to provide some contextual background to Alice’s adventures. But the crash course is this: Alice follows a white rabbit down the proverbial rabbit hole to find Wonderland, a fantasyland rich with vibrant characters.
Through the Looking Glass follows a similar motif but replace the rabbit hole with the looking glass. Alice finds herself immersed once again in a fantastical environment. This time Alice is already acquainted with a host of strange characters thanks to her prior adventure. Her familiar friends tell her that the Mad Hatter has gone beyond simply being mad and has actually taken ill. The Mad Hatter believes that his once thought dead family is actually still alive. Moreover, only Alice can find them.
And so here starts Alice’s adventure in this story. However, there is a twist of time to deal with. Or to put it more accurately, a twist of Time as time is personified by a living being. Time takes great delight in referring to himself in the third person for some cheap laughs as delivered by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. The few truly laugh out loud moments are actually courtesy of the over-the-top villainous Red Queen, portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter.
Much like its 2010 predecessor, Through the Looking Glass is especially impactful with its vivid imagery. Though Tim Burton is credited with only producing, but not directing, the film is as Burton-esque as they come. The visuals throughout are dialed all the way up to ten and then some. Coupled with the straightforward simplistic plot, this is a movie that is very accessible to the 5 and under crowd.
In other reviews we make a point to mention any caveats or considerations in determing if a movie is suitable for your kids. Here there is no strong language, scary moments, or adult situations that you will need to consider. Through the Looking Glass is a very clean, PG-rated movie that is safe for your young kids.
This sequel is about on par with the 2010 Alice In Wonderland remake. While both films are visually striking, they don’t quite capture the magic and wonder of the original 1951 animated classic. And to be clear, Through the Looking Glass centers around a story not told in the 1951 film. To that end, we consider Through the Looking Glass to be a supplement, but certainly not a replacement, of that original classic.
An IT professional by day and a theme park addict all day, Ricardo Escobar is proud to call Orlando his home, one of the world’s top vacation destinations. Ricardo applies his passion for attractions by sharing the latest and greatest in family entertainment for modernmami™ readers. Follow Ricardo on his adventures and connect with him via Twitter and Instagram.Disclosure: We were provided a complimentary advance screening of the film to facilitate this post. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
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