‘A Wrinkle in Time’ is a fantastical journey with all too important messages

by Rebecca Williams

Ava DuVernay’s “A Wrinkle In Time” is simply a story about discovery and self-love. Meg, our curly-haired heroine, is ridden with self-doubt, anger and sadness when we first meet her on the fourth anniversary of her father’s disappearance. Her adopted, supportive younger brother Charles Wallace tries to cheer her up, but our protagonist keeps her grey cloud around for a while longer. Soon after, Meg, Charles Wallace and their friend Calvin set off on an adventure to find her father, with the help of an omnipotent Mrs. Witch (Oprah Winfrey) and her lovely assistants, Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) and Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling).

Without a doubt, this movie is beautiful. The special effects are detailed and equally captivating. The colours on the screen constantly remind us that this is a well-funded Disney movie. In the first fifteen minutes of the film, we can see that DuVernay loves a good closeup which can be a bit off-putting for a while, but as the story widens so does the cameras scope. It was a deliberate move which adds to the world. There are elements, however, that aren’t so perfect, such as the random and frequent use of the word “universe” and an odd fight scene involving Charles Wallace.

While some might be worried the child leads would offer bland performances, Storm Reid did a good job playing Meg and was very mature throughout. Her male co-stars were equally good, but it’s clear that she carries most of the movie.

Even though the movie is rooted in the wonders of science, it seems to stray away from any real talk about the space/time continuum. It would have been interesting to see the film go more in-depth on the subject, but seeing as it’s a Disney movie aimed at those younger than me, it can be accepted. The storyline itself, however, remains consistent. The theme of self-acceptance is prevalent in this movie, particularly in the development of Meg’s character. It is nice to see a film that shows the female protagonist learn to love herself with the help of three wise women and her own will. It’s a refreshing change and should not go unnoticed.

Overall, the movie sends a positive message in a grandiose way which is very important for young girls to see in this social climate.