The land of Oz is in a political limbo. Since the King was murdered by the Wicked Witch, his throne has remained empty and his daughters, Evanora (Rachel Weisz), Theodora (Mila Kunis) and Glinda (Michelle Williams) have been waiting for his prophecy to come true. He told them that one day, a wizard would arrive from another land to rule Oz. Enter Oscar Diggs (James Franco), circus magician and egotistical cad, blown into Oz by a passing tornado. After sharply appraising the situation (i.e. realising a lot of gold is up for grabs), Oscar is more than happy to become King – he always thought he was meant for greatness, anyway. Before he gets the job, though, he must prove himself by killing the aforementioned Wicked Witch, once he’s figured out who she is.
It’s rumoured that Sam Raimi had a budget of £150 million for Oz the Great and Powerful, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz depicting the eponymous wizard’s rise to power. This shows in the dazzling special effects and glittering all-star cast, but perhaps he could have set aside a few quid for minor details like a tight storyline and a decent script.
Michelle Williams steals all her scenes in a drily comic turn as the wise Glinda, who sees through the incompetent Oscar but also recognises his goodness and his value as a figurehead for the land. The big laugh out loud moments come from a sarcastic monkey assistant, voiced by an energetic Zach Braff. Franco is competent, in that he manages to make a fundamentally dislikeable character tolerable, but doesn’t particularly amaze. He also has zero chemistry with any of the myriad women that swoon, helplessly at his feet.
You might say the star of the show is Oz itself, which captivates from first glimpse. It’s vibrant and whimsical, and the perfect setting from an adventure. Scenes that were made for 3D – our hero caught in a tornado, or rushing down rapids in a balloon basket – are equally impressive in 2D, adding excitement and adrenaline without seeming like shallow spectacle.
Unfortunately there are times when the narrative feels weak, and the characterisation lazy. Why are three capable, skilled witches all waiting around for a bumbling wizard to come and save Oz? Mila Kunis’ performance is below her usual standard, perhaps because her character’s motivations and actions are respectively rather unclear and extremely unlikely. There are entire scenes where the camera just gazes at her while she moons back with big, innocent eyes, and one wonders whether she is there merely to confirm that high-waisted leather leggings are also fashionable in fantasy realms.
Still, the last 45 minutes are genuinely engaging and suspenseful, with a compelling finale and satisfying resolution.
What with the current fashion for retelling well-loved stories with a twist (see Beastly, Wicked, Snow White and the Huntsman), Oz the Great and Powerful is at risk of being lost in the crowd. It might take more than the impressive visuals and Michelle Williams to make this anything other than a footnote to the blossoming genre.
This review is written by Isobel Jokl. You can watch Oz: The Great and Powerful at a Showcase cinema near you.
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