Oooh boy. I wanted to like this movie, I really did. I have fond memories of the book as a child, and I was hoping to see the magic I remembered come to life on the big screen. Some elements did - the visuals were mostly well done, the costumer designer deserves an Academy Award and I'm pretty sure the makeup artists had a lot of fun at their job. But the story line was dull, the acting fell flat, and everything that was supposed to pull at the heartstrings just did not.
The story follows the Murray family - the parents are both scientists working on technology that would allow them to "shake hands with the universe" (what the heck does that mean?), and they are raising two children - Meg, and the lovingly adopted Charles Wallace. When the kids are still young the father (Chris Pine) disappears, and the family is left emotionally and physically abandoned. We see a bit of their struggles (mostly mean kids and teachers at school) and then Charles Wallace begins communicating with the fantastical Mrs. Whatsit.
Here is where the story takes its turn into an unbelievable new world - a universe beyond our own that can be traveled through by "tessering" (spelling?). It turns out their father is still alive, and they must go on this adventure to find him. The children, Meg and Charles Wallace are accompanied by a random acquaintance, Calvin, and guided by the three misses - Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon and my favorite), Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling - whose character only speaks in quotes of famous people until about halfway through the movie when suddenly that disappears), and Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey). It is clearly supposed to be an epic adventure, requiring courage and strength and the power of love and blah, blah, blah.
I never felt entranced by the story (though I really wanted to be!). I was not drawn in by any of the characters, I was not invested in the outcome - in part because it was obvious was the outcome was going to be. I got bored and I yawned and if I had worn my watch I would have been looking at it and calculating how much longer I had to sit there. Suffice it to say, I did not enjoy it. I wanted to like it, I promise, but I just couldn't. Maybe you'll have better luck, but if you are on the fence about this one, maybe save it for a rental.