Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, an empty movie protected by Kevlar

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil has a moment late in the film where it almost redeems itself. It’s a hook that, had left it would in place would’ve made for a more satisfying film. Alas, a couple of minutes after the twist it resumes its jumbled, bloated course. Mistress of Evil feels like the seedling of a Disney princess film, but then forces in some Lord of the Rings action and end battle sequence that’s looking for an Avenger. Our 8 year-old, who is able to sit through two-hour films, was squirming 45 minutes into this one and it only got worse (for all of us).

The first quarter of the film is a set designer’s dream. The interior shots of the castle are gorgeous and really spell out the opulence that kings and queens must’ve lived by. The remaining three-fourths go between Aurora and Prince Phillip getting married, Maleficent trying to find her roots and Queen Ingrith scheming her way to power.

Anyone who has seen the trailer knows that. What’s disappointing is that nothing new is added to what those trailers showed. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil has no reason to exist, other than a sequel to a film that made money in 2014 and to sell lots of those horn head attachments.

I’ve seen lots of films that didn’t have a reason to exist and still loved them. That’s what’s so odd about Mistress of Evil. The actors for the most part, do a great job. Angelina Jolie does a fine job chewing scenery as the big bad, Elle Fanning as Aurora and the rest are all capable, but the end result is emptier than a tofu and rice dinner, no offense to tofu.

Part of that is Disney is playing loose with the villain. It is OK to actually have a villain, a bad person who has no good in them. If Maleficent painted the villain in a corner, then Mistress of Evil gives her the paint brush, suggests it was actually someone else who was the evil godmother and has her being the hero at the end of the day.

The tagline for the film, “On October 18, go beyond the fairy tale”, clearly tells audiences what it intends. Let’s take what people loved from the first one and give it a bigger canvas is surely what they were thinking. Audiences over 10 will know the dimensions of the characters after one minute of them on screen. Don’t trust the queen. The prince really is a nice guy, just a bit daft for not catching on quicker. The result seems like a forced version where Disney wants to have a hit film (and most likely will), but it’s done in packaging that is forced, immediately forgetful and uninspired.

Was this an attempt by Disney at universe building? If so, their trip beyond the fairy tale is generic and makes us want to return to fairy tale land ASAP.  It’s a long 118 minutes that could’ve used a 15 minute trim and still have been as boring. At least then it wouldn’t have taken so long to release us from the theater. There were multiple points in this film where I was hoping that Statler and Waldorf would’ve had a balcony seat to make this mouse house offering palatable.

The castle in this film looks very similar to the one in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. There are a couple continuity gaffs towards the end of the film. Specifically in the climax the Jolie and Pfeiffer are fighting in one of the battlements. Look at how often the two soldiers supposedly run off in fear due to fear of impending Marvel/LOTR battle elements. We counted two, but it’s only because they were quite obvious.

Disney, part of the reason some of your films are great is because of the villains. However, your live action films have a pattern of being average at best. They do make money, and that makes them impervious to public opinion, for now. Maleficent works best as a heel. The same goes for Cruella de Vil, who is scheduled to receive her own stand-alone film. Let me guess, she’ll become a champion for comfort animals and open up a sanctuary in the country? There are a number of other, second tier characters who are getting their own movies too.

It is OK to have a bad person, a real villain be in the film as the main character. Have them lose the battle, have them realize that their life doesn’t have to be bad, but don’t alter the character beyond recognition or the golden eggs that you’ve been laying will be fewer and fewer. And as a stockowner I don’t want that, keep making money; that pyramid scheme money, but do it with a better product and not more frequent hokum.