As a result, many of these films became adapted versions of literary works to prove their "literary value," and that's how America ended up with the Roger-Ebert-approved Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Comedy.
I'm highly discomforted and bewildered at how to realistically review a film such as this, but I did say I'd review every film adaptation and this was released in theaters. So as to keep this review as PG as possible (for my sake, and yours), we are going to use the phrase "drinking tea" to reference any and all of the activities in the film.
Original Source Breakdown
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Chapter I: Down the Rabbit Hole - MAJOR REFERENCES
Alice is a young librarian whose boyfriend William insists that they've been dating long enough for them to start drinking tea. Alice refuses and he leaves. She notices her library's copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and suddenly the White Rabbit appears and beckons her through the mirror. She ends up in the room with the Drink Me bottle that causes her (and only herself) to shrink.
Chapter III: The Caucus Race and a Long Tale - MAJOR REFERENCES
After leaving the room, Alice falls into a river, where she is rescued by the Mouse-like Scrugg and two other feline creatures. They make Alice a new outfit and help her get dry...in the fashion that cats do to get clean.
Chapter V: Advice from a Caterpillar - MINOR REFERENCE?
Afterwards, Alice finds herself sitting on a talking rock who gives her advice on herself (hence why I considered it to be representative of the Caterpillar scene). The rock teaches Alice how to drink tea alone.
Chapter VII: A Mad Tea Party - MAJOR REFERENCES
The White Rabbit catches Alice drinking tea and takes her to meet the Hatter, who is having a tea party all by himself (that one wasn't a euphemism). He then invites Alice to drink tea with him (that one was).
Through the Looking-Glass
Chapter VI: Humpty Dumpty - MAJOR REFERENCES
The Hatter joins Alice and the Rabbit on their journey through Wonderland and they come across Humpty Dumpty who has already fallen off the wall and none of the King's nurses are able to fix...what broke. Fortunately, (ugh) Alice drinks tea with him as well, revitalizing him.
Chapter IV: Tweedledum and Tweedledee - MAJOR REFERENCES
Dum and Dee are brother and sister. NEXT!
Chapter VIII: "It's My Own Invention" - MAJOR REFERENCES
Alice and company come across the Black Knight (yes, not Red) who is drinking tea with a woman out in the middle of the forest. The White Knight comes along and reprimands his partner and insists that they all go to the King's Ball. The woman leaves and the White Knight and Black Knight walk off hand and hand. WOMP WOMP!
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Chapter VIII: The Queen's Croquet Grounds - MAJOR REFERENCES
The King of Hearts is hosting his Ball where everyone has gathered to drink tea. The Knave of Hearts runs around with several cards while the Queen is nowhere to be seen. She arrives just in time to catch the King and Alice about to drink a full cup of tea together, and demands that she has Alice's head (ugh, again).
Chapter XI: Who Stole the Tarts? - MAJOR REFERENCES
The Queen places Alice on trial for never having drunk a full cup of tea. Her sentence is that Alice and she must drink tea if Alice is found guilty. After a crazy trial, Alice is indeed found guilty.
Chapter XII: Alice's Evidence - MAJOR REFERENCES
Alice is so effective at giving the Queen tea that the Queen passes out, allowing Alice to escape. A mad chase ensues and Alice ends up back in the real world's library. Her boyfriend returns to find her a very different lady and she agrees to drink a full cup of tea with him. They then live happily ever after and start a nice little family and always keep the spirit of Wonderland with them always.
Review:
How do I even start? Okay, I can do this.
There exists an R-rated edit of this film that cuts out all of the explicit tea-drinking, which goes to show that there actually is a story to be told, underneath it all. It's almost as if someone wanted to make a Wonderland story that was filled with nuance and subtext about Alice growing up and what that actually means for a young woman, but then they accidentally hit the switch that made everything over-the-top and in your face so that there is no subtlety at all.
This film really earns its subtitle of X-Rated Musical Comedy. There are absurd songs throughout (which are forgettable, all things considered), but the jokes are the real take away, for better or for worse. If an innuendo or dirty pun can be made, it's made. There is so much winking to the camera that, "Oh my, look at what we're getting away with" that it really feels like everyone was just having a silly old time making this film.
In a strange way, there is some cleverness to it, even if it's steeped in '70s era sexism and phobias. Sure, the story is about Alice becoming a woman and there would be no movie without her adventures, but it seems to be oversimplified in its solution. But maybe I'm reading too much into this film. This was the actress's first film and she did eventually work her way into mainstream films and television. She portrays this innocence and naivete throughout all of the proceedings that you kind of root for her to make it through this crazy Wonderland.
In regards to the phobias, there were the aforementioned Knights who are treated as a punchline (yet it was still sweet to see them end up together, as they actually seemed to be in it for more than just the tea). And some strange edits indicated that there were specific certain elements that were deemed too risque even for an X-rated film, specifically women getting pleasure from drinking tea. The only time there isn't an obvious cut away is during the Queen and Alice's tea party which is crucial to the plot. I think this may be one of the only movies where that is crucial to the plot.
The whole experience captures the dreamlike quality that Wonderland is supposed to evoke, even if it is a dream you probably wouldn't want to share with anyone. And, while it was a strong departure from the books, it was clearly that there was a reverence to the original material. Wonderland fans put this film together and it shows in the costumes, the setting, and even the dialogue. This was not just a quick cash grab with a public domain work.
My final verdict is that it is impossible to classify with a proper rating. It's exactly what it says it is and the creators put their all in to make it the best version of it that it can be.
Okay, I need to take a shower to wash this film off me. And I may never look at tea the same again.
? out of 5 Obvious Innuendos
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