“I wish…” Such a simple sentence, yet these two words can hold a lot of significance, or proceed a person’s deepest desires. In Into the Woods we follow four classic fairy tale characters- Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood and the Baker and his wife-  from  the “once upon a time” to the “happily ever after”, and beyond.

The movie is based on the original Broadway production, and the plot stays close to the original, with few changes to the script and no change to the plot itself. The musical has been an immense success on stage, and it’s seeing the same results on the big screen, with theater geeks, fairy tale fans and Disney buffs showing up in droves to view the highly anticipated film. However the film’s success in theaters hasn’t relied only on the preexisting popularity of the plot and script, but the cast of actors and actresses that wholly embody and bring new life to their characters, with James Corden as the Baker, Emily Blunt as the Baker’s Wife, Anna Kendrick as Cinderella, Daniel Huttlestone as Jack, Lilla Crawford as Little Red, Meryl Streep as the Witch, Chris Pine as the Prince, Johnny Depp as the (quite frankly lecherous) wolf, and a veritable score of secondary characters just as important as the main cast.

It starts out simple, four stories that seem to have no connection at all, but everything changes once they enter the woods, and soon everything becomes intertwined, actions have consequences, and most importantly, happily ever after doesn’t quite last forever. The film searches to explore the wishes that are all too real to countless people- wanting a child, or to marry a prince, the reluctance to sell a beloved pet, or simply wanting to bring a family member some comfort- and sometimes wishes turn out nothing like expected. Unlike most Disney films however, not everything is sunshine and daisies and narrated by fun, omniscient characters. Viewers are given a glimpse into the dark forces that are at work in the wonderfully wild world, be it witches, poverty, or even a wolf. Both lighthearted joy and deep sadness are woven together into a tale that hops between laughter one moment and tragedy the next, particularly taking a serious turn halfway through when yet another twist is shown. Songs range from wistful, such as “I Know Things Now”, to being aptly named “Agony” and includes a bit of everything in between, with Streep’s voice haunting audiences in “The Last Midnight” as well as Corden, Kendrick, Huttlestone and Crawford, bringing a tear to everyones’ eyes in “No One is Alone.”

Into the Woods covers so much more than is fathomable, from the typical fairy tale warnings to complex character dynamics and the ever-present struggle between good and evil, what’s right and what’s wrong. However it is nearly impossible to cover all of the details without practically writing a novel. This movie is one of the best films of 2014, with easily relatable characters, catchy songs, and a plot that leaves viewers on the edge of their seat. So into the woods it’s time to go and begin the journey, to fulfill wishes, and go beyond the happily ever after.