That famous Stephen Sondheim musical "Into the Woods", which ran on Broadway from 1987-89, has gotten a modern makeover, and CC has been counting the days until the film arrived.
The "fairy tales with a twist" film re-imagined by Disney and director Rob Marshall ("Chicago") hits DVD shelves, digital download and Disney Movies Anywhere today ($14.99-$19.99), and it really is a must-see. (Even if you're not the biggest Sondheim fan.)
"Into the Woods" weaves together the stories of Cinderella (played by Anna Kendrick), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford) and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy) into a musical that centers on a modest baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt), who are longing to have children.
When the baker and his wife discover that a witch (the amazing Meryl Streep) has placed a curse on them because of something the baker's father did, it is up to them to gather items from these famous fairy tale characters in order to reverse the curse.
There's something extra-colorful and fresh about this version of "Into the Woods," and the actors infuse such fun life into their roles. Streep is her usual inventive self, and Blunt's voice is just so lovely. Johnny Depp as the Wolf is a perfect choice.
We received a review copy and had to watch the movie in installments. CC couldn't wait to rush home from school each day to catch half an hour at a time.
While Sondheim is an unconventional composer, his tunes more cerebral than catchy, I did find myself humming "Into the woods to grandmother's house, into the woods to grandmother's house" way more often than I'd like to admit. CC, even more so.
The film is a fun romp through a magical, musical forest.
DVD extras include a never-before-seen original Sondheim song performed by Meryl Streep, interviews with the cast, a look inside the design and costumes.
In the meantime, check out this interview with a few cast members. Love what Streep has to say about what happened when she turned 40:
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