DuVernay/Disney "Wrinkle" Is Right On "Time"

By Darlene Donloe

Disney’s A Wrinkle In Time, directed by Ava DuVernay, is out in theaters nationwide today. For fans who are interested in experiencing the film in brilliant Dolby Vision Laser Projection and Dolby Atmos Sound Technology, the place to watch this highly-anticipated fantasy is the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. In addition to the film, audiences who attend a showing at the legendary theatre can view, up close and personal, A Wrinkle In Time costume exhibit, which will be on display for the film's run at the theater. There is also an all-new kaleidoscope curtain show of celestial light and sound.  

It was clear by the audience's reaction at the El Capitan's recent opening night screening of the film, that Disney, DuVernay and the cast have made a magical adventure that children and fans of the book will enjoy.

On the surface, Disney’s A Wrinkle In Time, directed by Ava DuVernay, is a simple story about a little girl who wants desperately to find her father who went missing four years prior.

But, it goes much deeper than that. The little girl, Meg, played by Storm Reid, is an unassuming little girl of color in glasses, who has low self-esteem, endures bullying and whose mission is to conquer the darkness.

Storm Reid and Levi Miller

She’s a smart student who would love to fit in but finds it a bit difficult. Her grades start to fall and she becomes an introvert due to the inability to process why her scientist father (Chris Pine) seemingly abandoned the family.  In reality, he discovered a new planet and used the concept known as tessering to travel there. It takes her baby brother, Charles Wallace, and the help of three celestial beings (Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) and Mrs. Who, played by Mindy Kaling) to help Meg find herself, her happiness and her place in the world.

Reese Witherspoon and Storm Reid

So Meg, Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe), a school friend named Calvin (Levi Miller) and the three beings set out on a life-changing adventure to find her father – and in so doing – find Meg’s inner strength.

Oprah Winfrey

Of course, her journey takes her to some dark, evil places.  Meg is met with a wicked source called IT that tries to put a wedge between her and her brother.  To make it back home to Earth, Meg must fight the darkness trying to take over the universe if she wants to save herself, her brother, her father and ultimately – the world.  Traveling through a wrinkling of time and space known as tessering, Meg, her brother and Calvin are transported to worlds beyond their imagination.

Mindy Kaling, Oprah Winfrey, and Reese Witherspoon

Ava DuVernay

DuVernay has assembled an incredible cast.  Reid and Deric McCabe are both a breath of fresh air. Reid holds her own amongst her bigger than life co-stars (Winfrey, Kaling, and Witherspoon).

Fans of the book can let out a sigh of relief.  Madeleine L’Engle’s original story is kept intact.

DuVernay’s vision is BIG!  The visual effects and cinematography are breathtaking. The colors are vivid and dazzling. She creates a gorgeous, emotional fantasy that will surely guarantee gasps, big eyes, various exclamations, smiles, oohs and aahs.

There are lots of life lessons in Wrinkle for both children and adults.

Storm Reid

Give a child the universe….

The best part of this sci-fi adventure/fantasy is its diversity. In fact, while watching the movie – the fact that the film has a colorblind cast, isn’t even an issue.

Kerra Bolton said it best recently on CNN - "The diverse casting in A Wrinkle In Time also takes an important step in normalizing girls and women of color as heroines of our own stories, interested in math and science, and struggling to define ourselves in a world that doesn't always accept us for who we are. The movie presents a vision of female empowerment in which whiteness is no longer the standard."

A Wrinkle In Time, directed by Ava DuVernay from a screenplay by Oscar-winner Jennifer Lee, stars Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling, Reese Witherspoon, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Pena, Storm Reid, Zach Galifianakis, Levi Miller, Deric McCabe, Andre Holland and Chris Pine.

MPAA Rating: PG; Running time: 1 hr. 49 min.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), A Wrinkle In Time gets an E (excellent).

Photo credit: Disney