A Fairy Tale After All Review: Creative, Whimsy Homage To Jim Henson Classics
A Fairy Tale After All is perfect for those who enjoyed the whimsy and wonder of Jim Henson Productions’ films as it utilizes modern technology to inject a great deal of nostalgia into viewers' hearts. Though it is a friendly trip down memory lane, the film also throws a delightful curveball or two at the audience, which makes for an overall wonderful viewing experience.
A Fairy Tale After All follows Sky (Emily Shenaut), a high schooler reeling from the loss of her father. The film opens with a storybook-like entrance to the journey she will take. The lines between the magical world and reality are blurred as Princess Geneva (also played by Shenaut), who has also lost her father, tries to come to terms with what comes next. Geneva struggles with her impending coronation after locking herself away in the castle and, upon her planned escape, she is whisked away to a desolate place by a wicked witch named Madame Mizrabel (Bridget Winder). Meanwhile, a bizarre incident sends Sky to the magical land of Celestia where she is mistaken for Geneva, thus sending her on a daring mission to save Geneva’s father.
Related: 10 Underrated Modern Fairy Tale Adaptations That Deserve A Second Chance
Writer-director Erik Peter Carlson crafts a sentimental and quirky tale about one girl’s means of coping with a great loss. The spiritual connection to Jim Henson Productions, most notably 1986’s Labyrinth, is lovely and appreciated. The blend of live-action cinema with puppeteering is something of the past, but Carlson is resurrecting a beautiful tradition. A Fairy Tale After All doesn’t aim to replicate any of those famous productions — rather, it aims to blend the advancements of technology, nostalgia, and a dash of self-referential humor
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