Not So Wondrous

Tim Burton is heavy on visuals but light on story with 'Alice in Wonderland'

Tim Burton messes up with his latest film, a confused adaptation (or "extension") of Alice in Wonderland. It plays like a sequel to the infamous story, and sadly, the film has more in common with Steven Spielberg's lousy Peter Pan sequel, Hook, than Burton's best films.

That's not to say Alice is completely lousy. There are some pleasures to be had, especially if you catch a 3-D screening. Johnny Depp's bright-orange Mad Hatter eyebrows look like they will end up tickling your nose. But as for a coherent story, one never jumps off the screen, even with the funny glasses.

The film features a 19-year-old Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returning to Underland after falling through a rabbit hole during her engagement party. When she arrives, all of the familiar characters (Cheshire Cat, the Tweedles, Absolem the Caterpillar) are there, though she doesn't remember them (much like Robin Williams' befuddled, confused, grown-up Peter in Hook). She eventually winds up at another tea party, where the Mad Hatter has been waiting for her return.

What follows is some nonsense with the Hatter being taken prisoner by the Red Queen (played by ... SURPRISE! Burton's wife, Helena Bonham Carter). This all leads to an overblown battle finale with Alice squaring off against the Jabberwocky.

Much of the film looks good, but none of the performers manage to do anything to get the viewer involved in the story or the characters. Even Depp's characterization feels gimmicky and lacks an emotional core. I must confess: I'm not a fan of this visual conception of the Mad Hatter. He looks like the unholy, flamboyant bastard child of Carrot Top and Madonna.

As the title character, Wasikowska seems like she'd rather be sailing or something instead of working on Burton's film. Her Alice is strangely uninvolved, a sleepy onlooker unimpressed with all of the weird crap being cast upon her. She's like Kirsten Dunst in a shit mood on a five-day drinking binge. Anne Hathaway as the White Queen does little more than walk around like a posing doll.

I did, however, love Tweedledum and Tweedledee, an interesting part-live-action, part-CGI concoction featuring actor Matt Lucas. And casting Crispin Glover as Stayne, Knave of Hearts, was an inspired choice. Bayard, a big bloodhound whose heart is with Alice although he's employed by the enemy, is another decent creation, voiced by Timothy Spall.

While the film was always intended as a 3-D release, Burton made the conscious choice from the beginning to shoot in 2-D and convert to 3-D in postproduction. As a result, the 3-D visuals aren't as crisp and dazzling as those in Avatar, which was shot with 3-D cameras. The visuals are still playful, but just a little flatter in places.

In the end, Alice comes off as a series of sketchy ideas held together by a flimsy premise. And it must be said that Burton is starting to fall victim to his very own clichés. The familiar Danny Elfman soundtrack, the repeated casting of Depp and Bonham Carter, the kabuki makeup ... it's time to ditch some of that stuff and reboot.

I've disliked two big 3-D blockbusters in a row (I am not an Avatar fan). Don't take this as a condemnation of the 3-D format, because I love the new technology. I'm just hoping this is the end of skimping on story in favor of extra visual dimensions. While I like teacups soaring over my head, I'm still a sucker for a good story, and Alice doesn't have one.

Alice in Wonderland is not showing in any theaters in the area.

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