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When the Brothers Grimm first wrote their classic fairy tales, they weren’t the fluffy, cuddly bedtime stories that we have now. They were often gruesome tales, filled with violence and gore. So perhaps the authors would have approved of Tommy Wirkola’s Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. But, then again, I doubt it.
This reimagining of the classic tale picks up the story several years after Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and his sister, Gretel (Gemma Arterton), were left in the forest to fend for themselves and almost fell victim to the child-eating witch who lived in a house made of candy (an adventure that left poor Hansel angry and bitter…and diabetic).
Now, the two have become notorious for their witch-hunting skills. So when several children from the same small town go missing, the mayor hires the duo to track the witch who’s responsible. But, with the Blood Moon approaching, the siblings find themselves battling more supernatural evil than ever before.
This kooky take on a classic tale is classic January fare. It’s painfully, laughably bad, yet it’s completely oblivious of its own absurdity.
Anyone who’s seen the film’s trailer should be in on the joke. After all, the very idea of these legendary young heroes turned ruthless killers is just plain silly. And, for that reason, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunter probably would have made an enjoyable action-comedy. The whole thing has a kind of Monty Python feel to it (right down to the opening witch trial, complete with a mob of townspeople shouting, “Buuuurn her!”). And the fact that Will Ferrell and his team produced the film suggests that, at some point, someone saw the humor in it.
Unfortunately, though, the humor is lost on most of the cast and crew. While Arterton often appears to relish the ridiculousness of her tough-talking, crossbow-toting character, Renner seems to think that he’s starring in (or at least auditioning for) yet another one of his serious action hero roles. And while Norwegian filmmaker Wirkola sprinkles the story with over-the-top action—from dismemberings to smashed skulls to bitten noses—it’s all a little off-putting. It’s wildly funny, but the laughs feel completely unintentional. Throw in some cheesy effects, awkward dialogue, and plenty of bad acting, and it’s just an unfortunate mess.
Had Wirkola and his team allowed themselves to let loose and have some fun with this silly, twisted fairy tale, it could have been a wacky romp through the witch-filled woods. Instead, it’s good for some unintentional laughs—but not much else.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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