My family has always enjoyed sitting down and watching a movie together. While we don’t get a chance to do this as often anymore, recently my parents and I got to sit down and watch A Wrinkle in Time. Movies allow us to take a break from the chaotic fast pace of life and enjoy time with our loved ones.

In A Wrinkle in Time, Meg Murry (Storm Reid) has been missing her father for years. She remains in her normal dimension with her adopted brother, Charles Wallace, (Deric McCabe) and scientist mother (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), while her father has been lost for years since he discovered something that can send people to another planet, called a Tesseract.

In the beginning of the movie, we see troubled Meg and her gifted little brother receive a visit by mysterious beings Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon), Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling) and Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey). The mysterious travelers guide Meg and Charles through a Tesseract along with Meg’s newfound school friend, Calvin (Levi Miller). The three children face a quandary filled with danger and magic with the hopes of locating their father (Chris Pine).

A Wrinkle in Time is multifaceted. On one hand, it is a fantasy story highlighting the magical journey through another planet and the otherworldly characters of Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which. The special effects of the movie truly bring this aspect to life as each scene is full of mind-bending backgrounds, glittering objects, or sputtering movement. Each individual scene is filled with what can only be described as the visuals of an alternate reality. They truly add to the looming mystery of the story. While it is easy to see how one may find the CGI to be cheesy or obviously fake, those who are able to open their imagination and embrace a more childish view on life will truly enjoy the fun fantasy world that A Wrinkle in Time provides to its viewers.

While taking a look at the movie from a less critical standpoint and accepting a childish view can change a viewer’s opinion on this movie. Another aspect of the movie that relates to this is how family friendly it is. Yes, the movie is rated PG rather than G, but that is due to the inclusion of thematic elements and some peril within the plot. But aside from that, A Wrinkle in Time is a great family movie to enjoy with children of all ages. Not only is the concept fun, but it also includes great messages and lessons. Some of those being perseverance and the importance of family.

While this is a spectacular movie, it is important to acknowledge that this film is based on the 1962 book by Madeleine L’Engle. If you are somebody who must read a book before watching the movie, you may want to check out the book from your local library. Otherwise, the movie accurately captured the important parts of the book and translated it extremely well into a film. A Wrinkle in Time is a family friendly, light-hearted story filled with magic and mystical characters.