Despite its admirers, Disney’s press materials refer to the original 1988 film “Willow” as “beloved,” which feels like a nostalgic inflation of a pretty generic fantasy written by George Lucas that served as Ron Howard’s first directing showcase. Despite this, a Disney+ revival series has its charms, particularly its contemporary narrative that features Warwick Davis’s return and the next generation.
The series begins by recounting the events of the movie, in which Willow, played by Davis, transforms into a sorceress and joins in a fierce battle to protect a baby who carries the kingdom’s destiny on her shoulders. With the help of the swordsman Madmartigan and (in the end) princess Sorsha, Willow defeats ancient evil. The latter were played by Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley, who also got married off-screen after the movie.
Whalley returns as the now-queen and mother of two headstrong grown children, who play roles in a mythical quest that requires traveling across treacherous lands to thwart the evil crone. Kilmer remains out of the picture as he fights cancer.
With respect to the previously mentioned child, Elora Danan, she has experienced childhood in namelessness, “Dozing Excellence”- like, to safeguard her, despite the fact that her character (a not-to-be-uncovered spoiler) before long becomes known. Princess Kit (Ruby Cruz), who is secretly in love with the knight who is tasked with training her (Erin Kellyman, whose credits include Lucasfilm’s “Solo:”), is one member of the colorful group in the quest. The Force Awakens”); and Boorman, played by Amar Chadha-Patel, a Madmartigan-style irreverent brawler.
As a showrunner, Jonathan Kasdan, who also worked on “Solo,” works with four directors to oversee consecutive episodes.In its construction, “Willow” borrows from the original while incorporating elements from the “Lord of the Rings” films, such as a lot of expansive green countryside and a lot of action that can be quite violent at times.
This “Willow” sometimes feels like it’s spinning its wheels, as it spends a lot of time helping Elora, who is now older, master her powers, which he presents as the kingdom’s only hope, as opposed to the expanding subgenre of expanded-to-series sequels. Even though Kilmer’s absence leaves a big hole, Kasdan and co. do a decent job of filling it, including the late arrival of Christian Slater, another knight with whom Madmartigan shared some history.
The story contains a lot of playful irreverence and humor among the elaborate fantasy production design and action sequences, in addition to situations and dialogue that sound modern. The latter, in particular, suggests that this revival was no small undertaking, and it appears that money ended up on the screen, which is a credit to the production.
When enjoyed on its own, unpretentious terms, that combination does not make “Willow” significantly more deserving of the “beloved” label than its predecessor from the late 1980s.
Disney+ will premiere “Willow” on November 30.
