- Labyrinth is hands-down one of the most visually creative live-action children's films ever made. While watching the film the audience may imagine that they've been transported to a magic show, wondering what strange and amazing sights will be revealed next. Calling upon influences as diverse as Alice in Wonderland and M. C. Escher, director Jim Henson and his immensely talented crew wield an impressive mix of costuming, set design, and of course puppeteering to create a world that really is fantastic in a very literal sense.
- The plot is as simple as a fairy tale's should be. Young Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) is upset because she's stuck at home all night minding her baby brother, Toby (Toby Froud). A thoroughly imaginative and petulant teen, Sarah calls upon the Goblin King of her favorite fantasy novel to come and steal the child. The surprise, of course, is that he actually shows up. As the supernaturally creepy Goblin King, David Bowie is so perfectly cast that one wonders if he arrived on set in costume. His minions, a motley collection of rejects from the Muppet factory, materialize in Toby's room and abscond with the child before Sarah knows what's happened. If she wants her brother back, she'll have to make it to the center of the Goblin King's mysterious labyrinth before his clock strikes thirteen. Sounds simple enough, right?
- Upon entering this magical world, the first thing Sarah notices is a dwarfish creature named Hoggle (voiced by Brian Henson) urinating in a fountain. Whether as a hobby or as an aspect of his employment, Hoggle spends his time exterminating faeries, providing a rather stark contrast with Sarah's expectations of how citizens of a fantasy realm should behave. Things only seem more unfair to her as Sarah discovers that the labyrinth's walls, floors, and doors all possess personalities of their own, too. Fortunately, she is also able to collect such stalwart friends as Hoggle, a towering beast named Ludo (voiced by Ron Mueck), and an effete David Niven-type fox named Sir Didymus (voiced by Dave Goelz) to help her in her quest. But how to topple the Goblin King in his own domain? If only there were a script to follow...
- But back to those visuals for a moment. A trap door leads to a pit whose denizens are composed entirely of human hands. A decorative gate clangs shut, only to transform into a giant metal monster. A wise man's curious hat takes on a birdlike personality of its own. In the film's most impressive setpiece, one of Escher's famous geometrically impossible rooms is somehow conjured into existence. If the music and script were as good as the set and costume design, Labyrinth would have been one of the best fantasy films ever. As it stands, the songs are amusing but unspectacular, and the narrative meanders a little too much for Labyrinth to be truly great. Nonetheless, it's a great-looking film both for kids and for those adults who have put away childish things, but who still wish to take them out to play from time to time.
- The "crystal juggling" was accomplished with the help of an expert who put only his arms and hands onscreen.
- I didn't mention this in the review, but Labyrinth also features some broad ethnic caricatures and fart jokes. I tend to associate these with producer George Lucas, although there is no direct evidence to support that claim.
