Film Review: ‘Maleficent’ is All Dressed Up With No Story to Tell

Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 30, 2014 - 6:27pm

CHICAGO – If “Maleficent” were an actual fairy tale storybook, I’d say it has beautiful illustrations but not much story to tell. As the title character Angelina Jolie is a towering presence with an unforgettable look, but the film itself is all dressed up with nowhere to go. “Maleficent” the movie’s story moves so slowly it makes a sloth look like a cheetah.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

This live action re-imagining of “Sleeping Beauty” stars Jolie as Maleficent – a fairy with giant wings. She falls for a human boy named Stefan (Sharlto Copley) from a neighboring kingdom when they are both still children, but his lust for power leads him to betray her. Then she becomes consumed with hatred and revenge. As an adult Copley eventually becomes king and has a daughter. So Jolie makes her big entrance and casts a spell upon the princess. On her 16th birthday she will prick her finger and fall into a deep sleep, and only true love’s kiss can break the spell.

The King sends his daughter into hiding in the woods in the care of three bumbling old fairies (Leslie Manville, Imelda Staunton, and Juno Temple). The fairies are largely inept at child rearing, which made me wonder how she learned anything at all spending her whole life cooped up in the forest. But then again you’re not supposed to think of those things in fairy tales, at least ones that capture your interest anyway. Jolie keeps a watchful eye on the cursed youngster. She protests not to like children, but she keeps the child out of trouble when the bumbling fairies aren’t paying attention.

“Maleficent” opens everywhere on May 30th in 3D, IMAX and regular screenings. See local listings for theaters and show times. Featuring Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharito Copley, Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville and Juno Temple. Written by Linda Woolverton. Directed by Robert Stromberg. Rated “PG”