“Red Riding Hood” hits theaters Friday, March 11, but yours truly was lucky enough to see an advanced screening! In this new take on the old story, Red Riding Hood is not “little”; she’s a young woman in medieval times about to be married off to a handsome blacksmith, Henry.
The problem? She’s in love with a handsome wood smith, Peter. Just as Valerie and Peter are plotting to run off together to escape her arranged marriage, a bell tolls; the wolf, who has not killed for twenty years, is back.
The gorgeous Amanda Seyfried looked amazing throughout the film, but that seemed to be the only constant; good looks. Amanda’s character Valerie is caught in a love triangle with two very handsome hot young men, and I couldn’t help feeling like I was watching my favorite afternoon soap opera.
Now, when I tell you I think this movie is for kids, I don’t mean the nursery rhyme set. I’m talking about about kids who are old enough to see a PG-13 movie, but need their Mom to drop them off at the theater. It should come as no surprise that director Catherine Hardwicke of “Twilight” fame also directed this movie. Hmmm…gorgeous damsel in distress, two men fighting over her…why it’s practically the same plot! And there are werewolves in both movies! And the same Dad! (Yes, actor Billy Burke plays the father in this movie too)!
Unfortunately, “Red Riding Hood” is no “Twilight.” Major plot holes, bad acting and a very fake set with very fake snow take away from a great performance by Amanda Seyfried. But, if you can get caught up in the whodunit story and lost in the eyes of three young and gorgeous people lusting after one another, you might love it!
I’m going to assume the ‘big’ actors who signed on for this movie were pitched on the “Twilight” success theory; with all of the similairities and the same director, what could go wrong?
Familiar faces in the film include Gary Oldman, who stars in the latest installment of Batman movies as good cop Jim Gordon and as Siruis Black in the “Harry Potter” series; Oscar-nominated Virginia Madsen as Valerie’s mother; Oscar winner and legend Julie Christie as Valerie’s grandmother (Grandmother, what big eyes you have!); and Lukas Haas of “Inception,” who still looks like he did when he was seven and starred in ”Witness” with Harrison Ford. Unfortunately, all the star power didn’t add up to a hit.
For me, the movie was a miss, but if you love suspense and young love stories, this one might be a must for you!
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