The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Directed by: Lasse Hallstrom & Joe Johnston
Grade: C
How does one get to live in a realm of sweets? Do I need a passport? A visa? Because I would be all over that. Get to wear over the top dresses, have cotton candy hair and probably live in an actual gingerbread house. Life goals.
So in The Nutcracker vaguely annoying Clara (Mackenzie Foy) travels to her late mothers kingdom and must save it from Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren) she gets help in this from the Sugarplum Fairy (Keira Knightley) and an awesome Nutcracker called Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight.)
Unfortunately all those people completely outshine Foy whose purpose seems to be: 1. look pretty 2. wonder around like your in an actual ballet and 3. take all the movie to learn a lesson thats pretty much spelled out for you.
Also there’s a bit with her father where I thought to myself, “Oh, it’s nice to see Clive Owen. I haven’t in a while!” And it wasn’t until IMBD told me I still haven’t cause her father was played by Matthew MacFadyen… so good job on that me!
Anyway Nutcracker is something I’m going to come down the middle on. Ultimately it’s kind of pointless but very pretty too look at. Knightley and Mirren seem to be having fun. And I’m not familiar with the story so I totally didn’t see the twist coming. It also just feels very early for a Christmas movie. (Says the girl whose probably going to see The Grinch this weekend!)
They do get a bit of ballet in there which was a nice touch. And seriously Clara’s way of walking and running got on my nerves for some reason but perhaps they were all told to move in a certain way that resembled dancing?
Needless to say I am not overly fond of Clara.
Strangely nothing about the soundtrack or the music stood out to me at all in this one.
Recommend: No, not in theaters anyway. Though this is one that if you happen to catch it streaming or on television some future Christmas time it’s a harmless way to spend an hour and a half.
It’s too early for me to attempt Christmas movies but I feared this one wouldn’t be as good as its cast gives you hope for.
Right? They could have at least waited until Thanksgiving. It’s weird because it feels like November is a big movie month period and then December- nothing until Aquaman. Oh well 🙂 I suppose its time to see the movies I don’t make this month.
I was really looking forward to seeing this, but I’ll definitely be waiting now until it comes out on dvd. Thanks for your fair review.
Sure!
Aww, bummer! I’d probably only watch it for the scenario you described anyway- if it just happens to be on, and I run across it at the right time. I enjoyed your review and now I want to live in a realm of sweets, too.
It’s a fantastically sugary place to be 🙂
Ah, i just love the pink fluffy hair 😀 <3
It’s cotton candy that she takes bites of and I spent a large amount of time wondering… Can that be done? Cause I so would!
Ah, that’s handy! 😀
I am a fan of Knightley and Mirren and it’s good to hear they didn’t disappoint despite the main act did a little. I may rent it out if it’s on dvd just before Christmas to embrace the festive mood. Great review! PS. I totally relate to those ‘life goals’ he he!
Thanks! As a fan of both of them myself I’d love to see them work together again! And they do seem to be having fun so something wild and wicked an offbeat would be perfect 🙂
Well, not being overly fond of Clara seems about on par with the ballet (which I’ve seen a million versions of thanks to a dancing daughter.) In most versions, she is just a means to an end and not a central plot point. (In some, I’ve actually seen her sit in a carriage for the entire second half a do nothing.) The rest of the people in the ballet are the stars. So they got that right. 🙂 She always annoyed me in the play, too. Sort of related, have you ever read Leigh Bardugo’s (who wrote Six of Crows) fairy tale short story book called Language of Thorns? She has a really interesting take on the Nutcracker you might find much more satisfying than this movie, although Clara is annoying in that one too! But it’s still really unique and interesting. 🙂
The Leigh Bardugo short is probably the most knowledge I have of the story though I don’t remember if the Sugar Plum Fairy stuff was the same 🙂 Good to know Clara is supposed to be annoying though. The do get a bit of the actual ballet in there about the history of the realms which was quiet lovely!
hehe I’d love to live in the world of sweets too! Such a shame this was so pointless :/ That’s good that they got some ballet in though. Really great review!
I did want to live in Candyland as a child but the realm of Sweets sounds good to!
Okay, I’ve never watched The Nutcracker, so I cannot comment much, but this review is so funny! My goodness, Keira Knightley just always looks good.
I always find her to be lovely!