Wrinkle has a few problems to iron out

APROPER adaptation of the much-loved 1962 book A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle has been a long time coming.

Newcomer Storm Reid stars as Meg Murry, a lonely, sensitive teen who reluctantly journeys into an alternate dimension to find her missing father (Chris Pine).

Along the way, Meg, her precocious brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) and sweet could-be boyfriend Calvin (Levi Miller) regularly call upon the ancient wisdom of a trio of astral guides for both comfort and directions.

Children who do not identify with the three lead characters — a distinct possibility given how hazily defined each of them are — will definitely appreciate the colourful and kooky presence of the guides.

Mrs Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) is the go-getter of the bunch, a feisty fairy godmother type blessed with a big mouth and a big heart.

Then there is Mrs Who (Mindy Kaling), arguably the brains of the outfit, if only because she speaks in famous quotes borrowed from everyone from William Shakespeare to Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Looming all too literally large over the over two is Mrs Which, portrayed here as a 50m tall Oprah Winfrey. While this unusual character seems to have the best understanding of the parallel world in which Meg’s dad is lost, her tendency to speak only Oprah-isms does not help speed up the search.

While there is undoubtedly much to admire about A Wrinkle in Time — particularly the vividly immersive production design — there is not quite enough to truly fall in love with.

A Wrinkle in Time is now screening at Village Cinemas and Cmax. Rating: