Malice In Wonderland (Movie Review)

You don't know who you are, so you don't know who you're not.

We’ve all, at a point in our lives, seen, heard or read some version or another of Alice in Wonderland. Loosely based on the book, Malice in Wonderland is a refreshing, low budget, fast paced movie. However, were it not for the name, people would not even think of comparing the two. But since the name makes such an obvious link to the book, the similarities are impossible not to notice.

The story follows a young American woman, Alice, in England who’s being chased by some men in black when she gets knocked over by a cab. The cab driver Whitey, who is apparently very late, throws her in the car and drives her to Underworld, where she wakes up to find that she has lost all memory of herself. During her journey in the Underworld, she meets some very interesting characters which, apart from Whitey, include Gonzo (Dodo), The Dutchess, Hattie (Mad Hatter), The Caterpillar, Midge (the Dormouse), DJ Felix Chester (the Cheshire Cat), Tweedledee, Tweedledum and Harry Hunt (the Queen AND the King). She tries to find out who she is and what she was supposed to do all through the movie. Although it’s based on the book, the story is very original and interesting. There was not a dull moment in the entire movie and the ending was not something one would expect but nevertheless, it was good. I found it hilarious that the genders of both the Queen and the Mad Hatter have been switched.

The acting is decent and most of the actors do justice to their roles. Danny Dyer as Whitey is really good and steals every scene he’s in, even if he’s just standing in a corner and not saying anything. Maggie Grace as Alice is good as well. They somehow make the weird seem almost believable. The dialogues are excellently written, as is their delivery. I especially loved the rhyme thing that The Caterpillar had going for him. The best part, though, is not the acting or the script but the visuals. The visuals are a pure joy even to the untrained eye. I kept wondering what it could’ve been like if they had a better budget. But it's one of those love it or hate it movies that you can't just like. To sum it up, this one’s worth watching.