'A Wrinkle in Time'

A Wrinkle in Time is a 2018 live-action movie that is centered around Meg Murry, a young girl who goes on a quest to find her missing father. Her father is a scientist who disappears under mysterious circumstances.

This fantasy movie has a strong multicultural cast. Meg Murry is played by Storm Reid, an African American actress. Mindy Kaling plays Mrs. Who. Oprah Winfrey plays Mrs. Which. Reese Witherspoon plays Mrs. Whatsit. Ava DuVernay serves as the film director, bringing strong representation behind the camera.

Since this movie is a combination of fantasy and science fiction, viewers will see many fantastical scenes. In the opening scene, Meg is with her newborn baby brother and father before his disappearance, and receives a cootie catcher. The cootie catcher starts with a red heart in the middle; when Meg opens the cootie catcher, it reveals a colorful tye-dye design, the first colorful visual shown in the movie.

After the flashback, we enter a dark scene with Meg in the present. Meg is with her brother listening to the radio about her father’s disappearance. She is sad because it has been a long time since her father disappeared. As a result, she becomes isolated from her peers at school. Her brother Charles is her best and only friend.

We are eventually introduced to the trio of Misses and the Tesseract. Mrs. Whatsit describes the Tesseract as a “real method.” It serves as a foreshadowing element in A Wrinkle In Time, giving Meg a clue about her father’s disappearance. The Tesseract also reveals the negativity spread throughout the universe, especially on Earth. The Misses have a psychic connection, as they can foresee the future. The darkness symbolizes the negativity experienced in the real world. As shown through the visions of the Misses, the darkness brings rage and violence to the world; if they do not act soon, the darkness will take over.

A Wrinkle In Time is based on the novel of the same name, and its diverse cast is laudable. However, this movie received a lot of criticism and negative audience reactions, making this a box-office bomb. Much of this was due to the introduction of a multiracial family to previously all-white story. Storm Reid’s performance as the main character, however, received positive reactions and is considered the highlight of the movie. Viewers are encouraged to watch the film on their own, and judge it on its actual merits.