One of the most enjoyable reasons for reading a book is that you can imagine what is happening on the written page and it doesn't interfere with the author's plot and, ultimately, message. Director Ava DuVernay has created a wonderful phantasmagorical visual feast (swaying gardens of gossiping flowers, Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) turning into a flying leaf, the beautiful, motherly Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey) and her jeweled eyebrows), but the uneven pace of the screenplay and over reliance on CGI makes "A Wrinkle in Time" a disappointment. Not until the movie reaches its midpoint and the main story kicks into gear does the film's narrative accelerate. DuVernay's strength with interpersonal relationships and character-building is evident. The strongest scenes are the most intimate ones, including a moment between Meg (Storm Reid) and her father (Chris Pine). Unfortunately, DuVernay makes the mistake of believing that just because the screen is filled with wondrous special effects that the audience is going to be satisfied. Eye candy doesn't equate with quality of story.
Jennifer Lee and Jeff Stockwell's script captures most of Madeleine L'Engle's main plot, but the resulting story feels rushed and artificial and lacks the charm and wonder of the novel. Storm Reid is very effective as Meg; many scenes work because she sells them with a natural performance. Also impressive are Chris Pine and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as her parents, although their scenes are limited. Unfortunately, the three A list stars (Winfrey, Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling) receive too much focus and detract from the overall intent of the movie. "A Wrinkle in Time" feels like a labor of love and, on those rare occasions, works when special effects take a back seat to genuine expressions of emotion and humanity.
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