Disney's latest musical fairy tale Into the Woods takes on the weighty task of carrying the legacy of dark and twisted Grimm tales. Adapted to the screen from a stage musical, it follows the intertwining stories of several famous fairy tale characters.
The musical fairytale plays with the conceits of its main characters From the vanities of the princes, to the protectiveness of a mother, the self-burdening masculinity of the baker, and the selfishness of a greedy little girl; these flaws are all toyed with, deconstructed, and then punished severely - as befitting a Grimm fairy tale.
This fairytale, as the fairy tales of old, shows us what we rarely see in real life: significant repercussions for greed, cruelty, and malice, and also of anger and revenge. However, there are some conservative overtones to the warnings about dreams and wishes that take us from our responsibilities. It offers us a glimpse of life outside of our everyday comfortable routines, and shows us what we can reach for and what it can cost us if we reach recklessly and fail.
The tale, though, does also stray into offering a challenge to the perceived expectations of the audience. When the old witch is returned to her beauty, expectations are firmly defied when that does not mean returning her to youth.
Into the Woods does what fairy tales do best. It shows us the price of our own conceits, mocks our vices and preoccupations, and promises us that adventure awaits us outside our front door - so long as we're willing to accept the price and consequences of our actions.
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