"Room on the Broom" is a popular children's book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The story follows a friendly witch who invites some unlikely creatures to join her on her broomstick. The book begins with a witch flying on her broomstick when she loses her hat. A kind dog retrieves the hat for her and asks if there is room on the broom for him. The witch happily agrees, and they continue their journey. Soon after, they come across a bird who helps them find the hat.
Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, the comedy gods behind Anchorman, Step Brothers and Talladega Nights, have plenty of experience of the weird and downright bizarre. But their next film promises to be the strangest thing they’ve ever done – and that’s saying something.
The problems are many, least of which is the barely existent script, which follows Hansel Jeremy Renner and Gretel Gemma Arterton as they attempt to put down a coven of witches who have stolen the children of a small town with the intent to sacrifice them under a once-in-a-generation blood moon, making themselves invincible to fire. The untitled dark comedy, now in development, is based on the 2012 Norwegian half-hour series, Hellfjord , which Wirkola created and produced with his partners Kjetil Omberg, Terje Strømstad and Stig Frode Henriksen through their Tappeluft Pictures.
Soon after, they come across a bird who helps them find the hat. The bird also asks if there is room on the broom and the witch agrees. The group continues flying until they come across a frog who helps them find the hat and the broom.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Review: A Boomstick Without Any Boom
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters comes from producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, which says a lot about what one should expect from the film, and it wants to be what we expect: A big, ball-shittingly dumb horror comedy with great kills, a smattering of snarky one-liners, and a keen ability to pulverize brain cells. But the talent difference between writer/director Tommy Wirkola and a director like Sam Raimi, who would’ve crafted the perfect version of this movie, is the difference between Hansel and Gretel working as a spirited bloodbath of shotguns and splattered witch brains and what is onscreen: A flat, lifeless action pic that fails on both the horror and the comedy counts.
The problems are many, least of which is the barely existent script, which follows Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) as they attempt to put down a coven of witches who have stolen the children of a small town with the intent to sacrifice them under a once-in-a-generation blood moon, making themselves invincible to fire. In their way are Hansel and Gretel, who have an arsenal of weapons and a mysterious background: Their parents disappeared when they were young, leaving them to fend for themselves in the forrest where they came upon a gingerbread house and nearly found themselves inside a witch’s oven. With the exception of the town McCarthyite (Peter Stormare), who accuses anyone with a pulse of witchcraft, a helpful troll (Derek Mears), and a good witch with whom Hansel has a crush, there’s very little in the screenplay to even elevate it to bare bones. It’s like a femur and a mandible, Gemma Arterton’s cleavage, and a lot of action sequences.
That wouldn’t be to Hansel and Gretel’s detriment if the action sequences were spirited instead of limp, if more attempts were made to inject one-liners appropriate to the film’s tone, or if Jeremy Renner, in any way, could provide a capable comedic presence. Unfortunately, anyone who has seen Renner’s stint as host of “Saturday Night Live” knows that Renner doesn’t have it in him: He’s tone deaf. He doesn’t have the timing or the swagger to pull off the role of comedic bad-ass. He’s like an accountant with a shotgun and a leather jacket, a guy who had his sense of humor surgically removed by dramatic directors. Meanwhile, Arterton doesn’t fare much better, although at least she has low-cut outfits to distract us from the fact that she’s completely out of her element. Even the ever-capable Famke Janssen, a natural fit as the Witch Queen, is muted by Wirkola’s floundering, ineffectual direction.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters simply doesn’t work. It not only fails as a competent film, it can’t even get so-bad-it’s-good right. I wouldn’t describe it as a completely miserable experience because Arteron and Renner are decent gun-toting eye candy, but it never comes close to achieving the massive orgy of guns, grins, and witch-killing so many of us were hoping would be on display. The bullets fly in Hansel and Gretel, but they never zip.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters simply doesn’t work. It not only fails as a competent film, it can’t even get so-bad-it’s-good right. I wouldn’t describe it as a completely miserable experience because Arteron and Renner are decent gun-toting eye candy, but it never comes close to achieving the massive orgy of guns, grins, and witch-killing so many of us were hoping would be on display. The bullets fly in Hansel and Gretel, but they never zip.
The frog also asks if there is room on the broom, and the witch agrees once again. As they fly together, a fierce dragon appears and threatens to eat the witch. The animals work together to scare the dragon away and save the witch. In return, the witch creates a new, bigger broom that can accommodate all the animals comfortably. The story ends with the witch and her new friends flying happily together on the enlarged broomstick. The moral of the story is about the importance of kindness, helping others, and working together as a team. "Room on the Broom" has become a beloved children's book due to its engaging story, rhythmic rhymes, and colorful illustrations. It teaches valuable lessons about friendship, inclusivity, and bravery. The book has also been adapted into an animated film and a stage show, further capturing the hearts of children and adults alike..
Reviews for "Room on the Broom Witch: Teaching Important Values Through Literature"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed in "Room on the Broom". The story seemed to drag on and there wasn't much of a plot. The illustrations were dull and didn't capture my attention. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable and unenjoyable read.
2. Mike - 1 star - I found "Room on the Broom" to be repetitive and unoriginal. The rhyme scheme was predictable and often forced, making the story feel choppy and unnatural. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and captivating read.
3. Emily - 2 stars - "Room on the Broom" didn't live up to the hype for me. The storyline felt lacking and the pacing was off. The illustrations were average and didn't enhance the reading experience. Overall, it just didn't hold my attention and I was left feeling underwhelmed.
4. Mark - 1 star - I really didn't enjoy "Room on the Broom" at all. The story was repetitive and didn't offer anything new or exciting. The illustrations were bland and uninteresting. The rhymes felt forced and didn't flow well. This book just didn't appeal to me and I wouldn't recommend it.
5. Jessica - 2 stars - I was expecting more from "Room on the Broom" but was left disappointed. The story lacked depth and the characters felt flat. The illustrations were average and didn't captivate my attention. Overall, it was a forgettable read that didn't leave a lasting impression.