INTO THE WOODS – In Theaters December 25

Disclosure: In any review for a product or service, products or compensation may have been provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” and "Terms of Use" tabs for more information.

We recently attended a screening of Disney’s “Into The Woods”, which will be in theaters soon.  My son and I love the theater, and have seen local productions, so I was nervous about seeing the movie.  (You know when you LOVE a book, and the movie isn’t what you thought it would be?  Or when they remake a classic movie and you are horribly disappointed- same goes with sequels.  “Dirty Dancing, Havana Nights” made me want to egg Hollywood.  Somebody should have put the director in the corner.)

However, I am pleased as punch to say we loved it!  All four of us did- my son and I, who were familiar with the play and songs, and my good friend and her son, who had never even heard of it before.  I figured it would be good to get all views, right?

We all thought it was great- funny, the music was great- and thankfully, the actors could actually sing.  Unlike some Broadway shows made into movies where they cast for star-power and not singing ability (cough, Les Miserables) I was thrilled that all the actors could sing- and well!  Yay!  There is nothing worse for a moviegoer and music lover then to have to sit through tragic singing, LOL. Not only are the stars in the movie bright (Hello?  Meryl Streep?) but they are talented actors AND singers, which this musical requires.

It’s a little long, something to consider with little ones.  Also, there is some death, though nothing graphic or brutal in any way- most of it is implied or “off screen”.  We thought this movie was great, and would recommend it to anyone (except perhaps super small kids, who will be mad that Ana and Elsa aren’t spinning in circles, singing and will get “the wiggles” with the longer-then-they-may-be-used to run time- but some little kids will love it).

More about the movie- “Into the Woods” is a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy)—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife (James Corden & Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch (Meryl Streep) who has put a curse on them.

Rob Marshall, the talented filmmaker behind the Academy Award®-winning musical “Chicago” and Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” helms the film, which is based on the Tony®-winning original musical by James Lapine, who also penned the screenplay, and legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, who provides the music and lyrics. Produced by Marshall, John DeLuca, “Wicked” producer Marc Platt and Callum McDougall, “Into the Woods” hits theaters Dec. 25, 2014.

www.facebook.com/disneyintothewoods