Walt Disney Pictures released their live action version of ALICE IN WONDERLAND in 2010, with Tim Burton directing and Johnny Depp leading the cast of colorful characters. While the film was a big hit financially, most critics (including myself) thought it a pretty bloated and misguided mess. But hey, box office numbers can give even the worst movies a sequel, and with the continuing popularity of Disney live action versions on animated classics, we’re now getting ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS. This time around James Bobin (THE MUPPETS and MUPPETS MOST WANTED) takes the director chair, though the original cast is back including Mia Wasikowska as Alice, Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, Anne Hathaway as The White Queen, and Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen. Rhys Ifans plays Mad Hatter’s father, and Sacha Baron Cohen stars as “Time” incarnated himself.
This story opens in the 1870s with Alice as the captain of a trade ship in the middle of a battle in raging waters. It’s a dream-like opening so odd you’d expect it to be a dream itself. But we realize this is her life now, as that ship was part of her family. When she returns to England after years at sea, she discovers her father has passed, and her family home may soon be seized. With all the stress of life wearing her out, she finds herself called back to Wonderland. The Hatter is in a sad funk over his missing family, who he believes to still be alive. Alice goes to find them, which leads her to a physical embodiment of Time itself. And it just so happens that Time’s girlfriend is none other that Alice’s old rival, The Queen of Hearts. Alice learns she has to steal a device called the chronosphere (think the old TIME MACHINE movie) and travel through points in time to learn the true fate of The Hatter’s family. In the process we retroactively learn the origins of The Red Queen’s hatred for The White Queen, how The Hatter came to be how he is now, and more in this rather layered tale.
This is one of those rare sequels that really improves upon the original. All of the central characters are essentially the same, but here they work so much better. The sequel also seems to realize that Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter is interesting, but more effective in small doses. It helps that we see The Hatter at different stages in life too, almost like an evolution of his eccentric personality. Depp even manages to find a new level of humanity in this crazy character, and makes him a much more likable presence this time around. Wasikowska seems to have found her right balance in playing Alice, displaying equal parts wonderment and confident heroine whenever necessary. Thankfully, the role of Alice becomes the central focus here in a more proper way, along with Time who is played rather effectively by Sacha Baron Cohen – this performance proves that the sometimes obnoxious funnyman can handle drama and comedy quite well when the material gives him the right kind of role. Even Helena Bonham Carter makes her Queen of Hearts a more balanced villain this time out, showing anger that’s actually based on genuine hurt feelings rather just being over the top of effect. Anne Hathaway also finds new layers for The White Queen, giving an interesting twist of melancholy and regret to the role that elevates the reading.
In some ways the entire film feels like one big ride, not dissimilar to those “putting you in the experience” theme park rides, so much so you can’t help but wonder if that was Disney’s intention with this film – perhaps setting up a new ride idea for one of their parks. When Alice is in the chronosphere, we as the audience take the time journeys with her in a very immersive way. All of the actors just seem to work better under the direction of Bobin, as does the pacing of the film. Burton’s attempts at adapting the Lewis Carroll tale in 2010 crumpled under its own weight and felt like an over-packed bit of big budget self-indulgence. Somehow the sequel is more centered and careful in its execution, and the end result is a lot of fun and a rather effective take on the source material. It made me think a lot of how STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN was such a shocking improvement over STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, it’s really that much of an improvement. Even Danny Elfman’s exceptional score works more solid this time out, really complimenting the film and giving it a more grand and spectacular feel. There’s a running theme in this film and the character of Alice in general, in believing nothing is impossible. This is strangely ironic, as I’m sure many would be surprised that this sequel actually found a way to make the template of the first movie work in a much better way. My only hope is that the studio doesn’t get greedy and just leaves these characters on a high note. If this ends up being the last time we see them, it’s a great way to say goodbye.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
