Into the Woods [film review]

★★★★1/2 

STORY 4/5

WRITING 4.5/5

ACTING 4.5/5

MUSIC 5/5

CINEMATOGRAPHY 4/5

     Stephen Sondheim is known well mostly for his musical, Sweeney Tood, which gained an even further significant amount of fame after the Tim Burton adaptation starring Johnny Depp. That's actually all that I've ever seen from Sondheim up to this point, so that was my standard for this film as I entered the theater. And I have to say, this exceeded my expectations so spectacularly and bested Sweeney Todd so extremely that it is the most surprisingly excellent film I've yet watched in the year 2015.

     Sondheim's lyrics are just as creative and entertaining as they've ever been before and they're sung by such talented actors that the film is livened twofold, with both great music and great performers. Meryl Streep is the lead of the film and she, unsurprisingly, does not buckle beneath the weight of being the connecting element of four stories. Her performance is both terrifically comedic and wonderfully dramatic at times. She sings the lyrics in their proper broadway fashion, loudly and boldly. 

     The film's humor is absolutely irresistible. At times when it seems as if the filmmakers have erred somehow and that they've gotten too cheesy or overdramatic, it turns on itself to mock itself in its own cheesiness, most excellently exemplified in a song called 'Agony'. Two princes (brothers I believe) muse on their loves, Cinderella and Rapunzel, speaking of the 'agony' hey feel being apart from them. They try to best each other in levels of agony. "Agony! Far more painful than yours!" one prince explains. One prince rips open his shirt to reveal his abs, and the other rips his wider to show more. It's hilarious. 

     But as the film progresses into its third act, it takes a very different course in both its story and themes. Whereas previously comedy would have entertained the audience, we now come to know more and feel more about the characters. The film becomes something of a study of morals, and in some ways displays some rather Biblical themes (at least in the way that I see it). It studies how people should always do the right thing, and think on the ways that their actions will affect the next generation. It's actually rather emotional.

     This musical was a fantastic surprise. I expected something good from Sondheim, but everyone, both in cast and crew, delivered splendidly. Rob Marshall's experience with musicals, from Chicago and Nine, clearly comes in handy, as does Depp's experience from Sweeney Todd (he sounds here very similar to the way his character in that film sounded. I would recommend that everyone see this, it's a truly rewarding film musical experience.