All the stops have been pulled out on this playfully sinister adaptation of the best-selling trilogy which plainly owes plenty to Roald Dahl with snazzy design and the casting of 'A' listers Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman.
Despite being based on a book it uses cinematic devises like Pirandellian author Jude Law commenting on the action and subtitles translating the gurgles of a cute little toddler given to such improbably precocious observations as "I'll handle this!", "You can't be buying this!" and "What a schmuck!"
Jim Carrey emerging from a crumbling pile straight out of 'Gormenghast' gives a performance that makes his earlier turn as Beetlejuice look almost subdued; an impression reinforced by the presence of Catherine O'Hara.
Despite being based on a book it uses cinematic devises like Pirandellian author Jude Law commenting on the action and subtitles translating the gurgles of a cute little toddler given to such improbably precocious observations as "I'll handle this!", "You can't be buying this!" and "What a schmuck!"
Jim Carrey emerging from a crumbling pile straight out of 'Gormenghast' gives a performance that makes his earlier turn as Beetlejuice look almost subdued; an impression reinforced by the presence of Catherine O'Hara.