Robert Zemeckis directs Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer and Jahzir Bruno in this second adaptation of Roald Dahl’s childrens’ classic about a boy who finds himself in a hotel full of murderous witches.

A relatively faithful retread which lops off some of the creepier embellishment but pretty much just remakes the Angelica Huston / Nic Roeg variation for current tastes. I usually like Anne Hathaway but she’s way too much here. The only element that raised a smile rather than bored was Chris Rock’s overly enthusiastic narration. What was that weird Roald Dahl ident in the middle of the credits? Why was it at such a jarring moment rather than the very start or the very end? Smooth and unnecessary, worst of all… often tedious.

3

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