The wrinkles of "Wrinkle in Time"

On March 9, “A Wrinkle in Time”, the long awaited movie adaptation of the mysterious and captivating novel by Madeleine L'Engle, arrived in theaters. The cast is star-studded and boasts big names, such as Oprah Winfrey portraying Mrs. Which and Reese Witherspoon as Mrs. Whatsit. Aligning with L’Engle’s delicately crafted story, the audience follows a young girl in search of her missing father after he mysteriously disappears during a scientific experiment.  Audiences had high expectations for “A Wrinkle in Time” after the major success of the novel, and it unfortunately did not live up to its hype. The film tended to focus on flashy effects, wild action sequences and over the top costuming instead of building complex characters. Audiences who were originally charmed with the novel’s complex character arcs and nuanced story telling years ago would not find the same elements in the film. The movie was able to please viewers with a love for action and interesting effects, but for book loving viewers who hoped to see a beautiful rendition of their favorite childhood novel on screen, it fell flat. While the basic plot of the story was pulled right from the pages of the novel, it didn’t retain the magical purity that one felt when reading the book. It felt as if the movie was made to make money and fit the mold of a high energy action packed film, not depict a compelling story about a girl in search of her father.  All in all, “A Wrinkle in Time” was a cookie cutter film sprinkled with an inspiring message and over-the-top special effects, and it didn’t break the mold when it comes to storytelling. If you are looking for an adaption of the novel that retains the purity and nuanced imperfections of the writing, this film isn’t for you.