Here’s a sequel to “Snow White and the Huntsman” that ditches Snow White. Interesting tactic, right?
Somehow the makers of “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” have stitched together a story that takes place before (in its long prologue) and after (the rest of the movie) the events of “Snow White.” It’s a stretch, but it actually kind of works.
“Huntsman” returns the evil queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron), tormenting her kid sister Freya (Emily Blunt). Freya’s got the “Frozen” gift of making icy all that surrounds her.
In Freya’s domain, she enslaves two children who grow up to be warriors, Erik (Chris Hemsworth, returning to Huntsman duties) and Sarah (Jessica Chastain). A love story develops, complicated by many things, including the Aussie Hemsworth speaking with a Scottish accent and the American Chastain speaking with an Irish brogue. (Fantasy worlds tend to be Anglo-Celtic in their lilts.)
The movie has spells and castles and a handful of magical creatures. Making his feature debut as director is Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, a longtime visual-effects maestro who brings a busy visual imagination to the scenes of forest creatures and iced-over landscapes.
Just one of the dwarfs from the first movie returns, played by Nick Frost. He’s joined by British comic Rob Brydon; they deliver some of the film’s funnier lines, along with their female counterparts Sheridan Smith and Alexandra Roach.
The movie overall has a jovial tone, which doesn’t always blend well with the royal villainy. But there are some actual laughs here, which suits the style of Hemsworth, a strapping actor whose sense of humor is his strong suit. He still strikes me as a hollow leading man, but hey, the guy gets work.
The main excitement here comes from cramming three strong lead actresses into the same movie. Theron — relegated to the beginning and ending of the picture — plays it big, and Blunt tends to go smaller.
As for Chastain, she’s much more heroic than her male counterpart, and seems a more serious warrior. But I guess “The Hunstwoman” is an awkward title.
As long as you’re okay with the usual computer-generated world-building, “The Huntsman” does paint a colorful fantasy realm, boosted by James Newton Howard’s hard-working score. Perhaps somewhere in the woods is Kristen Stewart’s Snow White, waiting for a sequel, as long as contractual obligations allow.
“The Huntsman: Winter’s War” 3 stars
This sequel to “Snow White and the Huntsman” leaves Snow White off screen, inventing a tale that takes place before and after that film. The evil queen (Charlize Theron) and huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) are back, joined by a fierce huntswoman (Jessica Chastain) and the queen’s icy sister (Emily Blunt). The movie doesn’t take itself seriously, which makes it an easy watch.
Rating: PG-13, for violence
Showing: Alderwood mall, Cinebarre, Everett, Monroe, Marysville, Stanwood, Meridian, Thornton Place, Woodinville, Cascade Mall, Oak Harbor
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