A Wrinkle in Time Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A troubled teen, with the help of three space witches and her super-smart little brother, uses the power of love to defeat a giant floating brain and rescue her dad from the most boring planet in the universe.

🍿 A Wrinkle in Time: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Murry Family and a Mysterious Visit

Meg Murry, a troubled teenager, is struggling with the disappearance of her scientist father, Alex. She lives with her gifted younger brother, Charles Wallace, and her mother, Kate. One stormy night, a mysterious woman named Mrs. Whatsit appears at their home, hinting at the existence of a ‘tesseract’, a concept her father was researching, fueling Meg’s hope that he’s still alive. The next day, Meg, Charles Wallace, and a schoolmate named Calvin visit Mrs. Who, another strange woman who speaks only in quotes. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when Mrs. Whatsit reappears, joined by Mrs. Who and the towering Mrs. Which. The three reveal themselves as astral travelers, guiding Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin on a mission to find Meg’s father.

Journey Through the Universe

The astral travelers lead the children through a tesseract, a wrinkle in time and space, to the planet Uriel. During their journey through Uriel, Mrs. Whatsit transforms into a beautiful, winged creature. They also get a glimpse of a dark and ominous shadow known as ‘The IT,’ an evil force that has captured Meg’s father. The group then travels to another planet, where they meet the Happy Medium, a seer who shows them that Alex is trapped on Camazotz, the home world of The IT. Mrs. Which explains that The IT represents the negative aspects of humanity, such as greed, anger, and low self-esteem. The three astral travelers bestow gifts on Meg before the group’s departure to Camazotz: Mrs. Who’s glasses, knowledge of her flaws, and the wisdom to never separate.

Confronting The IT on Camazotz

On Camazotz, the children encounter Red, a character under the control of The IT, who attempts to deceive them with tempting food and assurances that Alex is safe. However, Charles Wallace becomes hypnotized by Red and falls under the control of The IT. Meg and Calvin find Alex imprisoned, but Charles Wallace, now corrupted, forcefully brings them before The IT. Alex uses a tesseract to escape with Meg and Calvin, but Meg refuses to leave Charles Wallace behind, showcasing her love for her brother and the power of individual choice.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Meg Murry (Storm Reid): A struggling thirteen-year-old girl who embarks on a cosmic journey to find her missing father and discover her inner strength.
• Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey): The oldest and most powerful of the three astral travelers who guides the children on their quest.
• Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon): One of the three astral travelers, a whimsical being who transforms into a powerful creature to help the children.
• Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling): One of the three astral travelers, a wise being who speaks only in quotations to convey her knowledge.
• Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe): Meg’s exceptionally intelligent younger brother who is vulnerable to the influence of The IT.
• Mr. Murry (Chris Pine): Meg and Charles Wallace’s father, a scientist trapped on a distant planet by The IT.
• The IT (David Oyelowo (voice)): A malevolent entity representing greed and selfishness, who seeks to control the universe and holds Mr. Murry captive.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Mrs. Which: “The only thing faster than light is the speed of darkness.” – Said by Mrs. Which to emphasize the urgency of their mission and the power of the evil they face.
• Mrs. Whatsit: “You have to use what you have to fight what you hate.” – Mrs. Whatsit gives Meg this advice to encourage her to embrace her strengths and confront her fears.
• Mrs. Who: “ “’Love is stronger than evil.’ – Madeleine L’Engle.” – As Mrs. Who speaks only in quotes, this quote from the novel reinforces the central theme of love conquering evil.
• Meg: “I deserve to be loved.” – Meg says this as she finally understands the importance of self-love, which ultimately helps her overcome the IT.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $100,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $100,478,608
• Worldwide Gross: $132,675,864

💥 A Wrinkle in Time Reviews

Personal Review

I really wanted to love this movie! As a kid, the book sparked my imagination, but the movie just didn’t capture that same magic for me. While the visuals were vibrant, the story felt rushed, and the characters didn’t have the depth I remembered. I found myself disconnected from Meg’s journey, and the ending felt too simple. The actors gave it their all, but the script just didn’t give them enough to work with. It had some beautiful scenery, but the green screen was overused. It felt like a missed opportunity to create something truly special, and I think I’ll just stick with my memories of the book.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the book by Madeleine L’Engle”
  • “Families looking for a visually stunning adventure”
  • “Viewers interested in stories about self-discovery and overcoming adversity”
  • “Those interested in stories with strong female leads.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild peril and frightening images”
  • “Themes of self-doubt and insecurity”
  • “Brief scenes of bullying”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “Visually stunning but narratively muddled, ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ struggles to bring its classic source material to the big screen, ultimately proving less than the sum of its impressive parts. Though it’s a visual feast, the story feels underdeveloped.
• Common Sense Media: “The movie has great messages about the importance of love, compassion, and inner strength, but the plot moves fast and skims over the book’s deeper themes. Kids may find the visuals and fantastical elements appealing, but older viewers might find it simplistic.
• IGN: “A Wrinkle in Time is a visually impressive film with a strong message about self-acceptance and the power of love. While it struggles with pacing and character development, it’s ultimately a heartfelt and entertaining adventure for younger audiences.

Audience Reactions

The visual effects and costumes were stunning and brought the imaginative worlds to life.: Many praised the film’s visual effects, particularly the vibrant costumes and otherworldly landscapes.

The movie has great messages about the importance of love, compassion, and inner strength, for a young audience: Several viewers appreciated the film’s positive messages about self-love, acceptance, and the power of light against darkness.

Overall Consensus: Visually impressive but narratively weak, A Wrinkle in Time failed to capture the magic of the source material.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Director Ava DuVernay is the first woman of color to direct a live-action film with a budget of over $100 million.”
• “The production team aimed to create a diverse and inclusive environment both on and off-screen.”
• “Oprah Winfrey served as both actress and producer, heavily involved in shaping the film’s vision.”
• “The film’s visual effects team utilized cutting-edge technology to bring the fantastical planets and creatures to life.”

🖥️ How to Watch A Wrinkle in Time?

A Wrinkle in Time is currently available to stream on Disney+. You can also rent or purchase it on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability as options may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed A Wrinkle in Time, you might like these similar films:

• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005): Both films feature children embarking on a magical journey to combat evil in a fantastical world.
• Contact (1997): Features a female scientist who goes on an interstellar journey.
• Labyrinth (1986): Shares the theme of a young protagonist venturing into a fantastical realm to rescue a sibling.
• Interstellar (2014): Deals with themes of space travel, family, and the power of love to transcend dimensions, although in a more scientifically grounded way.
• The NeverEnding Story (1984): Presents a fantastical journey of a child saving a magical land from a dark force, emphasizing the power of imagination and belief.

🛒 A Wrinkle in Time Related Products

• A Wrinkle in Time (Deluxe Edition): A deluxe, hardcover edition of Madeleine L’Engle’s classic novel, featuring exclusive artwork and bonus content, perfect for collectors and fans of the book.
• A Wrinkle in Time Graphic Novel: A graphic novel adaptation of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’, bringing the story to life with stunning visuals and engaging storytelling, available for digital download.
• A Wrinkle in Time: The Unofficial Cookbook: Recipes inspired by the book, perfect for family fun.
• A Wrinkle in Time Inspired T-Shirt: Features quotes and scenes from the movie.

🎧 Soundtrack

A Wrinkle in Time features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “I Know Who I Am” – performed by Keala Settle
• “Warrior” – performed by Chloe x Halle
• “Park Bench People” – performed by Sade
• “Flower of the Universe” – performed by Sade
• “Let Me Live” – performed by Kehlani

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Disney A Wrinkle In Time Makeup and Costumes

Ever wondered how they created those stunning looks for Mrs. Which, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Whatsit? This tutorial breaks it down so you can try it yourself! It’s surprisingly fun and a great way to celebrate the film’s creativity.

Oprah gives master class on Manifestation and Vision Boards – A Wrinkle in Time

Want to know what it takes to embody a character like Mrs. Which? Oprah shares her insights on manifestation and vision boards in this awesome clip. It’s really inspiring, and you get to see a different side of Oprah!

A Wrinkle in Time Review – YMS

Did ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ live up to the hype? This review dives deep into what worked and what didn’t, giving you a balanced perspective. Be warned, it’s honest, so prepare for some potentially differing opinions!

A Wrinkle in Time – Thug Notes Summary & Analysis

Confused by some of the deeper meanings in ‘A Wrinkle in Time’? Thug Notes breaks it all down in a super entertaining and easy-to-understand way! It’s a fun way to grasp the movie’s core messages.

✨ Rate