A Wrinkle in Time

Name: A Wrinkle in Time
Item: A Wrinkle in Time
Rating: 3
Author: Sandie Angulo Chen

Movie review by

Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 10+

(i)

Inclusive but imperfect take on classic story of hope, love.

PG
2018
109 minutes

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Parents say

age 9+

Based on 81 reviews

Kids say

age 9+

Based on 48 reviews

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Conversation Starters | 0:30

After the Movie: Talk to Your Kids About A Wrinkle in Time

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We think this movie stands out for:

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

Messages about finding and staying in the light, embracing your uniqueness, recognizing the importance of love, and being brave enough to be a warrior who fights the darkness, however it might manifest itself. Also promotes strong family bonds, trusting friendships, and empathy for those who are different from you. Courage, perseverance, and teamwork are themes. A couple of moments involving iffy parenting/responsibility decisions by Meg and Charles Wallace's dad.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Which are inspiring, optimistic, generous, kind-hearted guides who help Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace find Dr. Murry and fight the darkness. They're wise, patient, and funny. Meg is brilliant, clever, beautiful, kind (one of the rare movies to portray a girl, particularly nonwhite girl, as lead character with science/math aptitude and extraordinary skills), but also insecure and sad. Calvin is brave, helpful, understanding; he encourages and supports Meg, likes her for more than superficial reasons. Meg's mother is brilliant, loving, empathetic. Meg's father is an ambitious genius and is selfless, though he does appear to choose his passion over his family in one respect, and he struggles with saving both of his children. Strong gender and racial/ethnic representation, with characters who are multicultural, African American, South Asian, and white/European.

Violence

A girl slams a ball into a classmate's face after being provoked by cruel comments. Kids encounter dangerous/threatening situations in which they nearly plunge to their deaths, are whisked away in a twister, or are stuck for eternity. A frightening moment when three people are dragged to an evil overlord. A child is taken and somewhat possessed by darkness. The child, with darkness flowing through him, hurts his sister several times via telekinesis.

Sex

A couple of marital kisses. Some flirting, hand-holding, and a cathartic hug between young teens.

Language

"Shut up," plus some bullying that involves cruel comments by a few teens.

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that A Wrinkle in Time is director Ava DuVernay's adaptation of author Madeleine L'Engle's classic children's fantasy book. The tween-friendly movie follows brilliant 13-year-old Meg Murry (Storm Reid), her genius little brother, and her friend on an epic, perilous journey to find her long-missing father. They're guided on their dangerous voyage across time and space by three supernatural beings: Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon), Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling), and Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey). Like the book it's based on, the movie features some intense scenes of peril: Kids nearly plunge to their deaths, are whisked away in a twister, or are stuck for eternity, and there's a scary moment when three people are dragged to an evil overlord. But while the kids are bruised and knocked down, no one dies or is seriously injured, and the frightening moments are temporary. The movie, which is remarkably diverse, promotes positive messages about trusting in your abilities, asking for help, and believing in the power of love. Courage, perseverance, and teamwork are also themes.

Parent of a 8 and 10 year old Written byAnne W. March 8, 2018

age 10+

Scary and disjointed

Ugh. Hate to write this. LOVE the three women in this movie...Oprah, Mindy and Reese. This movie should not be PG. It is scary and downright creepy in some part... Continue reading

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Parent Written byRosslyn M March 9, 2018

age 6+

Done believe the bad reviews!! Go see it!!!

After reading and reading so many horrible reviews, we were really close to not going. Boy would have missed out!!! Had my 5 year old, was a little scary for... Continue reading

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Teen, 17 years old Written byBloogablues March 7, 2018

age 8+

GREAT movie that doesn't deserve all the hate

Many critics are divided in their reviews about this movie. Some call it a "noble failure" while others say it hits the bulls-eye of the target audien... Continue reading

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Teen, 13 years old Written bybookworm3284 March 10, 2018

age 11+

Not for the little ones.

This was SUCH a good movie. Yes, I know there have been mixed reviews, but don't let that stop you from seeing this movie. It is so beautiful. And yeah, I... Continue reading

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What's the story?

A WRINKLE IN TIME is director Ava DuVernay's adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's beloved 1962 Newbery Medal-winning fantasy book. It tells the story of 13-year-old Meg Murry (Storm Reid), a middle schooler who's been floundering since the disappearance of her renowned physicist father, Dr. Alex Murry (Chris Pine), four years earlier. After a public confrontation with a mean-girl bully, Meg is surprised to find that she's made a new friend, Calvin O'Keeffe (Levi Miller). Meg's genius little brother, Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe), introduces Meg and Calvin to Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon), Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling), and Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), all of whom reveal that Meg and Charles Wallace's dad isn't dead. But to save him, they must travel across time and space to rescue him from an encroaching darkness called "The It." On different planets, the trio of kids follow intergalactic breadcrumbs to search for Dr. Murry, but the darkness threatens each step they take, putting their lives -- and their ability to return to Earth -- in danger.

Is it any good?

This big-hearted adaptation's payoff is more emotional than technical, but, thanks to touching performances, inclusive themes, and inspiring messages, it's easy to appreciate it. Meg is now a biracial middle schooler who's struggling to fit in at her school. Like many teens who feel out of place, she's a lonely misfit who suffers under the wrath of the popular girls, who enjoy tormenting her about her appearance, her interests, and even her father's disappearance. Reid's nuanced performance is lovely, and her vulnerability as Meg underscores the character's development from untrusting cynic to confident warrior. Meanwhile, all three of the actresses playing the Mesdames are obviously having fun in their gorgeous, vibrant costumes and imaginative personas. Kaling's Mrs. Who, who speaks in famous quotes, no longer pulls just from Western classics but also from OutKast, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rumi, and Buddha. Winfrey might as well be Mrs. Which, a wise and supernaturally beloved being who dispenses inspirational one-liners. And Witherspoon's Mrs. Whatsit adds levity to the mix as the flirty, jokey member of the trio. Pine and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (who plays Meg and Charles Wallace's mother) are also quite good.

That said, the movie does -- like Meg's experience with time-and-space travel -- have some distinctly bumpy patches. The pacing is uneven: The setup feels rushed, and, unlike Calvin and Meg's relationship in the books, their connection in the movie feels a bit like an "insta-crush" (although it's still sweet). And then there's the script, which includes some clunky exchanges (a couple between Calvin and Meg, as well as between Meg and her principal, plus several courtesy of Charles Wallace, who can be off-putting). Charles Wallace's giftedness turns into major creepiness in a possessed-child sequence that might be too scary for younger kids (and too campy and uncomfortable for adults). But all of these missteps don't take away from the fact Meg's coming-of-age story is a universal, relatable hero's journey that's likely to resonate with fans of kid heroes who discover they have the power to do the extraordinary.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the role models in A Wrinkle in Time. What character strengths do they display? How do Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace demonstrate courage, teamwork, and perseverance?
Talk about the importance of representation in the film. Why is it good for all kids/people to see minorities, including girls, as main characters in books, movies, and TV shows?
How does this take on A Wrinkle in Time compare with others you might have seen? What do you think about the changes or updates from the book? Why do you think the filmmakers made those changes?
Why do you think Mrs. Whatsit gives Meg the "gift" of her faults? How can your flaws help you in certain cases? How do they help Meg?
In the story, how are hope and love the ultimate way of defeating the darkness? How does that darkness manifest itself in different ways, every day, on Earth? According to the "Mrs." characters, how can we help combat the darkness?