Putting this on earlier today, I was worried. The previous two Terry Gilliam movies were, honestly, downright bad. So, it was a pleasant surprise when this one was positively mediocre. In a lot of ways, it even seems like a return to Gilliam’s classic charm. This was evident from the start, when the small traveling theatre makes its first appearance. Live theatre has been a constant theme in all of Gilliam’s work, so it’s interesting to see it again here. Another theme is Alice in the Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass, which Gilliam also tried in Tideland.
Tragically, Heath Ledger died part way through the filming of the movie. But, even though I hate to say it, this did benefit the movie. Rather than completely restarting with a recast, Gilliam switched the actor for Ledger’s original role every once in a while. Although this did cause a few inconsistencies in character, it added to the intrigue and wonder of this world. Speaking of that, the world building is some of the best out of any Gilliam film. Rather than placing it in a completely fantasy universe, Gilliam bases it in a modern city, a landscape we all have experiences with. Although this was a very good choice, it also made it so the movie looked quite bland, a trend through recent Gilliam films. Even in the fantasy parts, the movie had a bland look. Part of that was also due to the over-reliance on CGI at a time where CGI didn’t work terribly well. I personally think that if Terry Gilliam used some classic Python-esque animation, the film would have greatly benefited from this. And at times, it did, but if it was used throughout, it would have allowed for a more consistent style of the imagination sequences. The constant shift in look also contributes to it being incredibly forgettable. There are moments here and there that make it memorable, but, the bland look, writing, and sometimes even acting, make it just ok.
Overall, the movie is fun. To put the plot simply, it’s Terry Gilliam’s version of Inception. However, unlike Inception, it seems like it can’t decide what it is supposed to be. 6.7/10
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