Review of Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) by Robyn N — 19 Sep 2013

How do I go about saying this? Okay, Oz the Great and Powerful was the most irritating 2 hours and 7 minutes of 2013. There, I said it. From the cheesy dialogue to James Franco looking like he was high (which he might have been considering the wackiness of the world) the entire film, I was thoroughly disappointed. It was more Oz the Trite and Green (seriously, there was a LOT of green) than anything else.

The story was quite childish and lacked any wonder that may capture a person's attention. Overall, it just was not convincing and it was highly predicable.The characters do not aid to this problem either. Once they are introduced, they just beat the audience over the head with how evil is bad and "everyone has goodness inside of them." After a slow-paced beginning, when we actually enter the Land of Oz, other than color entering the film, there was not anything spectacular about the outlandish country and I could not wait to go back to Kansas. After all, "there is no place like home.".

Even the highly talented cast failed to bring this overly-munchkin-and-evil-green-witch-cackles-involved tale to life. James Franco playing the conniving con artist from a small town in Kansas came across as creepy and unforgiving. And his skinny little mustache was definitely NOT helping his case. Not for one moment was able to fall in love with his character and I was severely hoping somebody would kill him. But this is a Disney produced film and why kill when you can have singing munchkins, right? No. Rachel Weisz was unable to decide if she was British or American with her faltering accent as she plays Evanora. Mila Kunis, playing Theodora, Evanora's sister, did not know which country she was from so I could not believe she they were even sisters. But Mila's hair, eyes, skin, teeth, body, and leather pants/hooker boots combo were perfect so Mila wins. Michelle Williams was boring as Glinda and basically proved to everyone that she can rock long or short hair. You go girl! But she was not able to pull off leather pants, so Mila still wins.

If/When Sam Raimi directs the sequel to this film, I hope it's about Glinda meeting Dorothy and their quest to shave James Franco's pedophile mustache. It can be called Glinda Goes Rogue: Diaries of a Witch, Ruby Slippers, and a Mustache. THAT one I will definitely watch.

Overall, this was one movie too sweet for my sweet tooth to handle. I couldn't tell if it was the whole flying in bubbles (yes, they literally flew in bubbles... Okay) ordeal or Rachel Weisz's nails/claws with black rhinestoned triangles on them that pushed me over the edge. Regardless, this is one movie you could wait for the DVD.