It’s been almost seven years since the passing of the legendary Carrie Fisher. So it’s a bit of surprise to see her final film role come to life in 2023. Wonderwell is that final film of Fisher’s career. What’s the film about? How memorable was Fisher in her final role? Is the film entertaining? Did anyone not named Fisher stand out? Keep reading below and/or watch the video for the answers to all those questions.
So the first big takeaway was that Fisher plays a supporting, but suitable role in Wonderwell. She plays a fairy that comes across a special young girl that could be the one worthy of all the enchanted magic in her possession. The star of the film is played by a first time actress Kiera Milward who plays Violet, and is quite impressive in her film debut. Other notable supporting actors appearing in the film are Rita Ora and Nell Tiger Free (Game of Thrones, Servant).
The visuals are surprisingly good, especially considering the potential budget for an indie that it is. The magical forest CGI looked crisp and clean. The characters that spawn out of the forest are intriguing looking. I didn’t have any issues with the quality of the CGI.
As you’re reading this or maybe after seeing a trailer or reading a synopsis for the film, it’s easy to assume this sounds and looks like a children’s film, it is not though. There is enough dialogue and themes being discussed that are not kid appropriate. The main one being mentions of “sex”, “boobs” and a thematic insinuation of parental infidelity, as well as a hint of predatory behavior concerning teens and kids in the modeling industry. Teens should be fine, but kids younger than twelve, not so much.
Overall, there are hits and misses about Wonderwell. I found the fairytale aspect of the storyline less interesting than the modern-day Italy setting that the characters find themselves in. The acting is okay for the type of film that it is and the story plot is ambitious but it jumps around a lot and leads to various plot holes. It’s a fitting goodbye to Fisher in a magical depiction that should resonate to many who felt her magical spirit and aura that she provided with her roles and those that were fortunate to meet her.
- Acting: 5/10
- Entertainment: 6/10
- Story/Plot: 5/10
- Impression: 6.5/10
- Creativity: 7/10
‘WONDERWELL’ SCORE: 60%
