Edward Scissorhands-1990
Director Tim Burton
Starring Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder
Scott’s Review #1,198
Reviewed November 20, 2021
Grade: B+
Edward Scissorhands (1990) is a Tim Burton creation, made possible only after his 1989 smash hit, Batman.
A creative, romantic fantasy, it is an unconventional project as charming and whimsical as its stars were at the time.
The film is part sad, part magical, with enough science fiction and romance sprinkled in to make it work across genres.
The result was another box-office hit for Burton, teen-idol status for its lead stars, and an obvious Academy Award nomination for the deserving Makeup department.
As unconventional and original as it appears on the surface, the film suffers slightly from being a bit mainstream.
A safe, romantic-comedy feel pulls the film away from the darker tone it could (and should) have.
Still, Edward Scissorhands is entertaining and fascinating.
An eccentric scientist, deliciously played by Vincent Price, builds an animated human being: the gentle, soft-spoken Edward (Johnny Depp).
He dies before he can finish assembling Edward, leaving the poor young man with a freakish appearance accentuated by the scissor blades he has instead of his hands.
Friendly suburban saleswoman Peg (Dianne Wiest) discovers Edward and takes him home, where he falls for Peg’s teen daughter Kim (Winona Ryder).
However, Edward’s hands make him an outcast despite his kindness and artistic talent.
This is a challenge for everyone.
By 1990, Johnny Depp was becoming a huge Hollywood star, and so was Winona Ryder. As the ‘it’ actors, this helps Edward Scissorhands tremendously by not only adding ticket sales but also a fascination with them as a couple.
The chemistry is palpable, and so is the classic good-girl-helping-boy reform. Depp’s Edward is a sympathetic hero, instantly mysterious and likable.
Wiest, then in her prime, is a hoot as the comical Avon lady who introduces Edward to the joys and pains of suburban Americana.
The perfectly manicured landscapes in Peg’s neighborhood, where she goes door to door selling her products, are particularly enjoyable.
As one can easily predict, the beautiful plants and bushes suffer at the hands of Edward.
The Gothic mansion where Peg discovers Edward is a deliciously creative set piece that has the classic Burton stamp.
The director is so defined by his artistic sets and design that half the fun of the film is discovering and noticing these fabulous creations.
The mainstream part comes with the story, and a smattering of 1982’s E.T. sentimentality is included to win over middle-American audiences.
This isn’t bad, but it lightens the heavy drama and sinister approach Burton could have honed.
Much of the credit goes to Depp because, on paper, the premise could easily be dismissed as silly, trivial, or outlandish. The actor brings pathos to the role and makes the audience believe in and fall in love with the character.
He makes Edward even more relatable by adding some obvious clichés: Kim’s jealous boyfriend, Jim, played by Anthony Michael Hall, and the eccentric religious fanatic who believes Edward is evil incarnate, played by O-Lan Jones.
Adding these villains, and casting most of the rest of the neighborhood as either clueless or misunderstanding townsfolk, further reduces much of the supporting cast to standard stock characters.
Burton, along with Depp, Ryder, and Wiest, gives Edward Scissorhands (1990) heart.
It’s a beautiful fairy tale that feels magical and adventurous, though the storytelling is mediocre. It’s an above-average film that won over audiences at release.
Oscar Nominations: Best Makeup
Golden Globe Nominations: Best Actor- Comedy or Musical-Johnny Depp
