Oz the Great And Powerful

Starring: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Zach Braff, Joey King, Bruce Campbell

Oz The Great And Powerful feels like the big, grandiose movie Sam Raimi has always wanted to make. While Raimi’s always infested his movies with slapstick comedy that’s become his signature, Raimi turns it up to the nth degree with this film. Perhaps a codename for the film should be Raimi Unchained, as Oz allows him to walk a fine line between fun horror movies and the more recent, light fare we’ve seen from him.

For the most part, the world is better for it as Raimi is somewhat of an under-appreciated talent. Raimi does bring is signature cheese, which for a film like this, seems tailor made. Scenes are hammy, but it seems Raimi is smiling and winking at us with every cornball scene he puts in this picture. When a director is enjoying himself as much as Raimi seems to be here, it’s tough to call it a knock against the film.

Where Raimi isn’t so spectacular is in his casting choices. Not that James Franco is bad as his role of Oz, he just feels out of place. He nails the goofier aspects of the film with glee, but something about him feels off. Mila Kunis is serviceable, but doesn’t do anything too impressive as Theodora. She meshes with Franco just fine, but seems too golden for some of the nastier parts of her character. Her sister Evanora, played by Rachel Weisz, hams it up just enough to be fun, while Michelle Williams’ Glinda the Good is fine, but unmemorable as Glinda.

The standouts (and the two who will be selling the most toys) are Zach Braff as Finley the Flying Monkey and Joey King as China Girl. Braff’s the comic relief, and uses his voice to capture the slapstick and cheese Raimi is going for with this movie. King on the other hand is the cute character, the one you’re supposed to fall in love with, and she makes it easy. They’re arguably the best characters in the film as well, as they get most of the best lines, jokes, and scenes.

The aforementioned characters are both visual effects, and the team at Sony Pictures Imageworks should be proud. They’ve created a world that’s lush, full of color, and real. The creation of China Girl is outstanding, and she truly feels like a real, breathing character. She’s only matched by Imageworks’ incredibly detailed and gorgeous locales. Oz does not feel like filler, but rather a place one could vacation, or likely live.

All of Imageworks wonderful work is enhanced by the 3D, and I’m sure having Raimi on board didn’t hurt them. Raimi seems to have mastered that medium one film in, and uses it to his advantage when he can. True, he does opt for the tired-and-true “It’s coming at you!” trick, but within the context of the film, it works. Oz is one of the few films where the 3D is truly felt rather than watched, and captures that feeling James Cameron was going for (and mostly achieved) with Avatar. Oz may be the best 3D yet, and deserves to be seen as such.

Oz the Great And Powerful has its weaknesses, such as a second act that drags and drags, but at its heart, this movie is Army of Darkness with an unlimited budget. That’s enough to jump on board and like the movie, even with it’s glaring shortcomings. It should also be something of a Renaissance for Sam Raimi, with the hope studios will trust him again with large budgets. Every dollar is maximized, and he’s still the filmmaker we all fell in love with, for better or worse.

Story: B-

Overall: B