'The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar' review: Short film is Wes Anderson at his most creative

Wes Anderson may be working with a briefer runtime than usual with his new short film, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, but the celebrated director has never been more creative.

Following hot on the heels of this summer's extraordinary Asteroid City, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar continues Anderson's fascination with bringing theatricality to the forefront of his filmmaking. Both films feature constant reminders that what we are watching is a carefully concocted spectacle. Asteroid City accomplishes this with an elaborate framing device that places a stage play within a TV documentary about said play. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar operates on a similar framing level, first introducing us to the writer of the story we are about to witness.

That writer is Roald Dahl (Ralph Fiennes), an author whose anti-Semitism has left behind a complicated literary legacy, and who was previously adapted by Anderson in 2009's Fantastic Mr. Fox. While Fantastic Mr. Fox took several liberties with Dahl's original novel, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar sticks fastidiously to the text of Dahl's short story. We see this right in the film's opening seconds: After puttering around in his writing hut, Dahl sits in his armchair, brushes away the debris left by his prior writing and erasing, and begins to recite The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar directly to camera.

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The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a near-exact rendition of Roald Dahl's original short story.

Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, and Richard Ayoade in "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

The entire film progresses in this way, with a script composed almost word for word of Dahl's story. As Dahl's telling begins, we meet the absurdly wealthy Henry Sugar (Benedict Cumberbatch). Rich, unmarried, and neither a particularly good or bad person, Henry is one of many men "drifting like seaweed all over the world."

Henry takes over the recitation from Dahl, describing his fascination with a medical journal from India. Within, Dr. Z.Z. Chatterjee (Dev Patel) encounters Imdad Khan (Ben Kingsley), a man who is able to see without his eyes. Both men take control of the narrative as the film continues: Dr. Chatterjee to introduce Khan and marvel at his astonishing ability, and Khan to describe the meditation he undertook in order to master it. In true Russian doll-like fashion, these stories within stories eventually return to Henry, who decides to follow Khan's path in order to cheat at gambling.

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As The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar progresses through these layers of story, Dahl's text and the way in which actors deliver it remains the same. Fiennes, Cumberbatch, Patel, Kingsley, and Richard Ayoade all speak Dahl's words at a brisk, inviting clip. Dialogue tags like "I said" or "he said" remain peppered throughout, always delivered straight to camera. The overall effect is that of a speedily read bedtime story, one that hypnotizes you and leaves you hanging on every word.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a theatrical marvel.

Benedict Cumberbatch in "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Adding to the hypnotic quality of The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar are its immaculate visuals. Anderson has always been a master at crafting scenes, but he truly ups the ante here with his staging, which draws even more heavily on the theatrical than Asteroid City. Intricate sets split to reveal additional backgrounds, while pieces of scenery are wheeled in and out of frame. Costume changes happen on camera, with Kingsley's Khan at one point flat-out asking where his mustache is.

Kingsley and the rest of the cast also serve as a theatrical company for the The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, taking on multiple roles throughout and occasionally assisting with costume or set changes. While perhaps a nod to Anderson's own troupe of frequent collaborators, these core five actors solidify the film's theatrical quality — a quality that is only elevated further by the bustling crew of stagehands making sure every element of the film runs smoothly.

From these visible stagehands to several practical effects (including a delightful trick involving a trompe l'oeil box), you get the sense while watching The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar that you're witnessing something actively being made in front of you, as opposed to watching a pre-made film. Even what must have been highly choreographed beats have a feeling of improvisational creation.

It is in this creation that The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar finds its truest magic. Here, we're observing the creative process at work: A writer puts a story to paper, a theatrical performance brings said story to life, said performance is the very movie you're watching. Like in Asteroid City, and in other Anderson films, it's the clear proof and pursuit of that creation that brings truth to spectacle. And what gorgeous truths and spectacles lie in wait in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar opens in select theaters Sept. 20, and is streaming on Netflix Sept. 27.