Review of Labyrinth (2011) by Sahara K — 26 Jul 2011

The Muppet Master Jim Henson's legacy still lives on and this wonderful, highly imaginative, extremely well put together little gem of a cinematic masterpiece is proof that it still does 25 years after its first release and 21 years after his death.

I admit I only caught a snippet of this work of pure genius and since this was in a school lesson before we broke up for the holidays, I didn't want the bell to ring as I was just amazed by it. I saw the whole film at a Classic Film Weekend at the Broadway Cinema in Douglas to see what a sheer delight it is. A purely lovely, funny and enjoyable family film that blends in fairy tale elements like in the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, Muppet-style humour (this is Henson, after all) with a bit of Monty Python thrown in for good measure (Terry Jones wrote the script), a plot that is worthy of Terry Pratchett and David Bowie songs you can all have a sing along to.

It starts off drastically as teenager Sarah played by Jennifer Connelly, a whiny drip of a heroine who you would probably want to give a slap round the chops and tell to get a grip, throws a tantrum and runs upstairs to her room filled with books and toys from her childhood love of all things fairy-tale and fantasy after being told to look after her baby brother Toby by her - supposedly wicked - stepmother. After Toby cries for the umpteenth time, Sarah wishes for Jareth the Goblin King, a character she thinks is pure fantasy, to take him away and before you know it - he does! She is then forced to enter his labyrinth and make her way through to the Goblin City in which he reigns over in 13 hours before Toby himself becomes a Goblin too.

The film kicks off as Sarah struggles to complete the labyrinth but meets extraordinary and well thought-up characters such as talking caterpillars, Hoggle, a grumpy dwarf with a love for all things shiny who reluctantly helps Sarah on her quest despite Jareth's orders for him not to, a giant, hairy brown behemoth named Ludo who is more clever than you might think when you first glimpse at him and Sir Diddymus, a small but brave dog of a knight who would do battle riding his trusty steed Ambroseus (an Old English Sheepdog - who neighs!) if his 'horse' wouldn't cower in the nearest corner.

There are moments of utter joy and pure imagination to behold in every scene inside Jim Henson's fantastical world with a sweet and simple plot that doesn't shove its 'be careful what you wish for' message down your throat, although be aware that it does have its freakish moments and doesn't really fall into Disney-esque cute and cuddly territory. These include a red Fire Gang whose musical number consists of them dancing while taking their heads off and a masquerade ball that's not as exquisite as it seems. I cannot be sure how scared kids might be watching them but it is only scary as any normal fantasy or children's film of yesteryear should be. Connelly becomes likeable as the story moves at a good pace while Bowie can act out a villainous character while sing the numbers he wrote for the film without it just being a showcase for what would have been big hits for him at the time of its release.

But the film really belongs to all the puppet characters whose looks and personalities steal every moment they're in so the two main human stars play second fiddle to them. If it weren't for them, it would probably collapse under its own weight and not become the cult classic that it has become today although the songs and touches that Henson and Jones bring to the piece including a scary Goblin-operated cleaning machine that would look like something borrowed from an Indiana Jones film and the Bog of Eternal Stench, a swamp where its unlucky victims who step in it, will stink forever may bring a smile to your face if you have fond memories of them.

Despite a strange and peculiar showdown between Sarah and Jareth towards the end which somewhat makes sense, Labyrinth is Henson's non-Muppet fairy-tale triumph that it will provide wonder and charm for generations to come and bring happiness to families, especially those with parents who long for kids to try something new rather than the usual CGI stuff they're glued to these days. A magical joy. Altogether now 'You remind of the babe, what babe? The babe with the power, the power? The power of the voodoo...'.