Adaptation of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ means well but is too messy

Prior to a recent advanced screening of the live-action Disney film “A Wrinkle in Time,” a recorded message from Ava DuVernay was shown to the audience.

In it, the director of the 2013 Academy Award-nominated historical drama “Selma” and the 2016 documentary “Thirteenth,” both of which deal with racial issues, spoke about how she was interested in making something different and about how she hoped “A Wrinkle in Time” would appeal to a 12-year-old, as well as to the 12-year-old in all of us.

Well, this movie certainly is nothing like “Selma.” But while it may appeal to those 12 and under — the adaptation of the 1962 Newbery Medal-winning novel by Madeleine L’Engle is chock full of bright, shiny, digitally created imagery and boasts big, broad and easy-to-digest lessons — it isn’t too likely to do much for adults.

It is an awkward, laboring affair that — sticking with the time theme — feels longer than its lessthan-two-hour runtime.

Sorry to say, it’s just not enough that Oprah Winfrey is in it.

We first meet the brilliant Mr. Murry (the talented Chris Pine of the new “Star Trek” movies, who makes an impression in relatively little screen time) having quality daddy-daughter time with his little girl, Meg (Lyric Wilson, in this early scene). Mr. Murry has his head in the stars — his dream is to “shake hands with the universe” — and he teaches his enthusiastic, bespectacled offspring about some big concepts regarding space and time.

Mr. Murry and wife Mrs. Murry (Gugu Mbatha-Raw of “Concussion”) are about to adopt a young boy, so they make it clear to Meg she always will be loved, even when she can’t feel it.

Four years later, Meg (now played by Storm Reid) is trying to cling to that message. Her father, you see, disappeared not long after the adoption of Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe). The good news is the children are protective of one another, especially he of her, Meg having grown into an outcast at school.

Perpetually sad about dad, she is picked on by mean kids, one of whom says she wishes Meg had disappeared.

ATSUSHI NISHIJIMA — DISNEY VIA AP This image released by Disney shows Storm Reid, from left, Deric McCabe and Reese Witherspoon in a scene from “A Wrinkle In Time.”