The new movie version of Into the Woods is based on the Broadway play. It’s full of stars: Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Emiliy Blunt, Chris Pine, Christine Baranski, Tracey Ullman, and many others. The plot is a mash-up of fairy tales: Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Jack and the Bean Stalk. I always thought the musical possessed a core of darkness and this movie version contains a bit of that. The problem many people might have is the music by Stephen Sondheim. A surprising number of people loath his music (Bruce Taylor for one). The soundtrack to the movie is also available. I liked Into the Wodos but you may not. GRADE: B+
I’m a huge Sondheim fan but INTO THE WOODS is far from the top of my favorites list. We’ve only seen it once – the original production on Broadway, in 1987 – where we’ve seen other Sondheim shows (COMPANY, SWEENEY TODD, FOLLIES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC) multiple times.
Jackie definitely has this on her list.
Jeff, I thought this movie version felt a little long. Diane was surprised so many people in our audience brought their small children to INTO THE WOODS. This is NOT a Disney childrens movie.
I like his lyrics and loathe his music. To my ears, every song sounds the same. But I liked the story (in the play even more), the acting, the staging and the wit of it. Probably a B minus for me.
Patti, I liked the story of INTO THE WOOD much more than the music. And, the cast was terrific.
Can’t agree, Patti. If you hear them enough they stand out. Anyway, Pacific Overtures bears no resemblance to Sweeney Todd and both are far from Folloies or Company or A Little Night Music. We’ve seen them over and over since 1971.
Company – 7 times (including London, Edinburgh Festival and a local high school!)
Follies – 5 times (including two London productions)
A Little Night Music – 6 times (including a National Theatre production with Judi Dench & the revival with Catherine Zeta-Jones)
Pacific Overtures – 4 times (once in London)
Sweeney Todd – 3 times (once in London)
Into the Woods
The one we both disliked was Sunday in the Park with George.
We’ve also seen revivals of West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Gypsy (3 times – first in London with Angela Lansbury, later with Tyne Daly and then with Patti Lupone). And then there was Side by Side by Sondheim (3 times, twice in London), Mostly Sondheim (Barbara Cook, solo) and Sondheim on Sondheim.
Jeff, Bruce Taylor believes Sondheim ruined the Broadway musical.
I want to see this one. Joe – not so much. I may have to take it in alone.
I’m not the Sondheim fan that the Meyersons are but I LOVE Sweeney Todd! My only exposure to Into the Woods was a high school production that I thought was very good.
No comment on the film, I haven’t seen or heard any version. But on people taking young children, they do it to avoid paying a baby sitter, that’s all. A kid’s ticket is cheaper than the sitter. I think it’s wrong, but then nobody’s asking me.
Beth, INTO THE WOODS is a favorite of High School theater teachers. I’ve see three very good student presentations of INTO THE WOODS. Tell Joe he would probably like INTO THE WOODS. Emily Blunt is excellent.
Rick, I think some of the advertising for INTO THE WOODS, especially the TV commercials, might lead some people to think it’s a kids movie. It’s not.