Visually rich but dramatically impoverished fantasy in
which, while searching for the key that will open a Christmas gift left for her
by her recently deceased mother, a teenage girl (Mackenzie Foy) from Victorian
London finds herself in an alternate world divided into the territories of the
title. There, she learns, her mom once reigned as queen. But, one of the
regions (led by Helen Mirren) has since gone to war with the others (presided
over by Keira Knightley, Eugenio Derbez and Richard E. Grant). So, aided by a
life-sized nutcracker in the shape of a soldier (Jayden Fowora-Knight), she
sets out to defeat Mirren’s apparently villainous character and restore unity.
Though suitable for most, directors Lasse Hallstrom and Joe Johnston’s riff on
both E.T.A.Hoffmann’s tale “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” and the
Tchaikovsky ballet indirectly derived from it may satisfy few. And, while its
messages about believing in yourself and cooperating with others are perfectly
acceptable, they are driven home ham-handedly.
Watch out for: Occasional
peril, some frightening images.
Rated: A-II, PG
© Arlington Catholic Herald 2018