Into the Woods is a Disney-produced movie based on a musical by the same name written by Stephen Sondheim. The movie follows two characters, the Baker and his wife, as they embark on a journey to break the witch’s curse and have a child. Intertwined with the main story are other assorted fairy tales- namely, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel. The characters are played by an all-star cast including such names as Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt, Chris Pine, and Meryl Streep.

When I went into the theater, I had watched the trailer exactly once. I knew it was a musical but didn’t know that it was based on a musical by Sondheim. I thought that the movie was just another Disney film. Seeing the film through that lens, I could really see the parody elements of the film as they turned fairy tale cliches upside down.

I found the movie to be enjoyable but ultimately very perplexing. I walked out of the theater trying to make sense of what I’d seen. It’s been awhile and honestly I still can’t quite grasp what happened in there. I would give the film 3 out of 5 stars for sheer creativity. The costuming was beautiful and every scene was visually stunning. I think most of the actors did a great job, though Anna Kendrick fell a bit flat in certain parts. If you’re just running to the movie theater, just go ahead and watch the movie. Though I must warn those people with small children that although the film is Disney and has a PG rating, it still contains dark themes such as death and violence with some suggestion of sexual themes.