Newton is pitch perfect giving an emotionally rich and idiosyncratic performance, clearly channeling Beetlejuice's Lydia Deetz. Sprouse does a good job with no dialogue and only grunts and looks and the supporting cast is superub. Carla Gugino as Janet Lisa's stepmom is an absolute delicious terror and Liza Soberano as Taffy Lisa's stepsister is refreshingly kind and supportive playing diametrically aposed the evil stepsister stereotype. Lisa's dad played by Joe Chrest plays a smaller role but he effectively brings his brand of affable obliviousness.
Visually the film is rich evoking the time period(1989) as well as its influences- Heathers, Edward Scissor Hands, the aforementioned Beetlejuice- but does so in a way that's not derivative and serves this particular story. Its refreshing to see a new idea, influenced by previous films, that is not a reboot of them. The soundtrack is solid, the costuming wonderful. All in all the production is impeccable coming from first time director Zelda Williams, its a real feat and shows a lot of promise. If the movie stumbles its in the third act, the script meanders and kind of fails to stick the landing and bring all the various plot and emotional threads home. It prevents it from being great but it is still very much good.
Weird, funny, singularly refreshing in this increasingly homogenized release schedule.
Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.
Rent It.
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