Alice Through the Looking Glass Review: Better Than the Original, But Still a CGI Mess

Film critic Sean Patrick reviews Alice Through the Looking Glass. It’s better than Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, but still overwhelmed by CGI and odd performances.

By Sean Patrick, Regional Media Film Critic

Released in 2016, Alice Through the Looking Glass arrives as the sequel to Tim Burton’s 2010 Alice in Wonderland—a film I genuinely despised. I still do, six years later. That original outing was an irritating display of cloying whimsy, ugly CGI, and grating performances—particularly from Johnny Depp.

Fortunately, Alice Through the Looking Glass, directed by James Bobin, manages to rise above its predecessor—though only barely.

Plot Summary

This time around, the story hinges on the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), who is falling into a deep melancholy. He believes his long-lost family, presumed dead, might still be alive. When no one believes him, he begins to fade away both emotionally and physically. Alice (Mia Wasikowska) must travel back in time to uncover the truth.

To do this, she seeks help from Time himself, played by Sacha Baron Cohen. In one surprisingly moving scene, Cohen and Wasikowska manage a rare emotional connection—one of the only genuinely effective moments in the film.

Performance & Visuals

But one scene isn’t enough to save a movie so weighed down by excessive CGI. Nothing in this film feels tangible. Even basic set pieces—like handrails—are rendered digitally. The result is a visually exhausting film that offers little in the way of immersion or wonder.

Johnny Depp’s portrayal of the Mad Hatter continues to be aggressively grating. His performance, like much of the film, is loud, chaotic, and difficult to endure.

Final Verdict

Alice Through the Looking Glass is not a good movie. It is, however, a less bad movie than its predecessor. That’s the best I can say. While it has a moment or two of clarity, they’re quickly swallowed by the same garish spectacle that plagued the first film.

Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)

I’m Sean Patrick. Thanks for reading.

Alice Through the Looking Glass, Movie Review, Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Sacha Baron Cohen, Disney Movies, Tim Burton, Film Critic, CGI, Fantasy Films, Sequel Review

Movie Review Hell or High Water

Hell or High Water Review (2016): Chris Pine & Jeff Bridges Deliver Oscar-Worthy Performances

In Hell or High Water, Pine and Foster play two brothers pushed to extremes. Facing foreclosure on their family farm, they start robbing the very banks trying to take their land—banks that loaned their mother money she could never repay. Their goal? Use the stolen money to pay back the same banks and reclaim what’s rightfully theirs.

Ben Foster is electric as the unpredictable, recently released ex-con, while Chris Pine portrays the more grounded, morally conflicted brother doing bad things for what he believes are good reasons. Jeff Bridges plays the seasoned Texas Ranger chasing them down—a sharp, instinctual character trying to stop them before things spiral even further.

The film unfolds like a modern western, blending Coen Brothers grit with classical Western atmosphere. Its tight pacing, gorgeous cinematography, and powerful performances make it one of the most compelling films of 2016.

The final confrontation between Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges is unforgettable—arguably the best scene in any film that year. It’s layered, intense, and laced with regret, justice, and understanding.

More than just a crime drama, Hell or High Water tackles the economic desperation of rural America and how far people will go when the system is rigged against them.

Bottom line? Hell or High Water is the best movie I saw in 2016. Don’t miss it—expect Oscar nominations for both Pine and Bridges.

Movie Review Yoga Hosers

Film Review: Yoga Hosers – Dumb on Purpose, and Proud of It

By Sean Patrick

Kevin Smith’s Yoga Hosers is not your average horror-comedy—it’s proudly weird, self-aware, and ridiculously dumb… and that’s kind of the point.

Starring Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp, this quirky flick follows two high school sophomores who work at a Canadian convenience store and suddenly find themselves battling sentient bratwursts—yes, bratwursts—reanimated by a Nazi scientist. These creatures, dubbed “Bratsies,” are hilariously portrayed by Smith himself, bringing a surreal level of absurdity to the screen.

Tied loosely to Smith’s previous film Tusk, Yoga Hosers is the second entry in his self-proclaimed “Canadian Trilogy.” Justin Long also returns, this time as a yoga instructor named Yogi Bear (yes, really), who teaches the girls the ancient art of yoga-based butt-kicking.

Let’s be clear: this is a bad movie—but it knows it’s bad. Unlike films that flop due to lack of effort or vision, Yoga Hosersis intentionally dumb, a loving throwback to campy ‘80s horror where the fun is in how off-the-rails things get. Smith’s joy in making it is palpable, and that infectious energy carries the film further than you’d expect.

While this movie definitely won’t be for everyone—it’s tailor-made for a niche audience with a taste for kitsch and meta-humor—those who catch its wavelength will likely find it charming, hilarious, and even a little bit brilliant in its own warped way.

Verdict: A knowingly stupid, joyfully bad movie that you’ll either love or hate—but it’s never boring.