ABC (Mon., May 10, 8 p.m. ET)
To take the pulse 0f the target audience, I watched this Wonderful World of Disney presentation with two 10-year-olds. One pointed the finger at several differences between the film and the 1962 novel it's based on. But both became engrossed in this three-hour version of Madeleine L'Engle's enduring tale, which was originally intended as a miniseries when production began in 2001.
Unsupervised adults may consider Wrinkle overblown and didactic, though all will endorse its positive message. Meg (Katie Stuart), a bright but pugnacious adolescent, feels bad because she just doesn't seem to fit in. Shazam! A supernatural visitor called Mrs. Whatsit (played with brio by Alfre Woodard) directs Meg and her precocious little brother Charles Wallace (David Dorfman) on a quest to rescue their scientist dad (Chris Potter) from the planet Camazotz, where the authorities enforce a stultifying sameness. They're joined by Calvin (Everwood's Gregory Smith), a nice boy who appreciates Meg's individuality.
The film cleverly establishes the dark planet's 1984-like atmosphere, but it's preachy at the finish.
