OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

I’m curious as to how the screenwriters constructed the plot to this prequel to THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939). It’s as if the writers took the story of the predecessor, hurled it into a tornado and then built this story with collected debris. The story is humdrum and lacks a sense of wonder and mystery. Weisz and Williams are thankworthy in their performances, Kunis is under par most of the time, but it is the wizard himself, James Franco who is simply baffling in his mediocrity. His portrayal of Oz is cringe inducing and a prime example of ‘phoning it in!’ His incessant grinning and dreadful delivery is unforgivable especially from a leading actor. Considering the massive budget the filmmakers had to work with, the cinematography is run-of-the-mill and the special effects are artificial. It’s obvious that this entire film was created behind a green screen but bringing attention to this is amateurish. Director Sam Raimi’s unconventional style has been his forte in the past but his decision to helm this irksome script and miscast Franco as the title character proves that he has become a conventional director-for-hire. The back story about the mysterious man behind the curtain had so much potential but the curtain ripped considerably. Oz the Fake and Awful is more likely!

Rating: 4/10

S. V. Fernando