By Mary Best
Editor-in-Chief
After 74 years, we have an open invitation to investigate the man behind the curtain.
“Oz: The Great and Powerful” stars James Franco (“127 Hours”) as the great wizard himself, determined to be world-famous by modeling himself after Harry Houdini. As fateful as the original movie’s weather patterns, a tornado foils his great escape plan after he cons half a carnival, and he begs for a chance to live so he can be a better man.
Awakened by an overwhelmingly bright and technicolor landscape, Oz’s hot air balloon arrives in — you guessed it — the absolutely stunning land of Oz. The witch, Theodora (Mila Kunis, “Ted”) greets him, thrilled to meet the man who fulfilled the late king’s prophecy, which promised a man named Oz would fall from the sky and rescue the citizens of Oz from the hands of the wicked witch.
Theodora’s sister, Evanora (Rachel Weisz, “The Lovely Bones”), also a witch, plots Oz’s demise, tempting him with the riches he will inherit should he become king and fulfill the prophecy. After saving the life of an adorable flying monkey named Finley (voiced by Zach Braff, “Scrubs”) and rescuing a super-sassy China doll (voiced by Joey King, “Ramona and Beezus”) from her shattered village, Oz heads to the dark forest, gold in mind, with determination to destroy the witch.
When the ethereal, gentle Glinda (Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn”) greets him at the palace in the south, Oz faces the truth about who is good and who is evil. He isn’t too excited about his new duty to rescue the charming, peaceful people of Oz, Munchkins and tinkers alike, and embarks on an even bigger quest to fulfill the prophecy.
With Franco’s depressing Oscar hosting experience hanging over his name, he exceeded expectations as Oz. He plays him honestly, creating a believable and endearing character, even when he cons every woman (or witch) who flirts with him. He’s a hero worth rooting for – no matter how many hearts he breaks.
Williams, Kunis and Weisz all tie for the hottest witches of all time (besting even “Hocus Pocus’” Sanderson sisters) While Williams’ pure beauty casts the strongest spell over her admirers, Kunis’ Theodora can best be described as a surprise. While it took a few minutes to remove her association with Meg Griffin, her character on “Family Guy,” she offers the film’s strongest performance, rocking leather pants and a couple of unforgettable hats.
King’s China Girl and Braff’s Finley round out the charming cast, creating the dream team of fantasy sidekicks. The writers get bonus points for dividing an appropriate amount of one-liners between the two characters, letting them hit their peak as comic relief and not instigating any eye rolls.
For a movie that was seemingly a prequel to the 1939 classic, “Oz” proved a welcome surprise. Without abandoning my love for the Stephen Schwartz musical/Gregory Maguire novel “Wicked,” “Oz” offers a completely different, clever and equally satisfying explanation for the original story of “The Wizard of Oz.”
Is this Disney’s hint at a remake of “Wizard of Oz”? It’s too soon to see any news in a crystal ball, but “Oz: The Great and Powerful” offers all Ozians the best attempt Hollywood can offer.
