In a woods filled with magic and fairy tale characters, a baker and his wife set out to end the curse put on them by their neighbor, a spiteful witch.
Too drawn out, 90 minutes might've been perfect.
I like the idea of <em>'Into the Woods'</em>, with its mash-up of numerous fairy tales from <em>'Cinderella'</em> to <em>'Little Red Riding Hood'</em> to <em>'Jack and the Beanstalk'</em> to <em>'Rapunzel'</em>. I'd also say the musical pieces are enjoyable across the opening 20-30 minutes, which are nice and energetic.
However, from the midway point things start chugging down to a snail's pace. The novelty of the premise begins to wear thin, as it becomes clear that there isn't much more to tell - despite a load of the 125 minute run time still remaining. I will say, though, the look of the film is pleasant.
I do also rate the casting. James Corden seems to split opinion online, but I've always liked him; having watched and enjoyed him since his career took off with UK TV's <em>'Gavin & Stacey'</em>. Emily Blunt and Johnny Depp are two of my favourite actors, while Meryl Streep and Anna Kendrick are strong casts. I like Chris Pine too, but he's iffy in this.
In conclusion, I almost found entertainment with this but overall it disappoints due to its poor pacing and gappy plot.