‘Snow White’: A Remake That’s Truly is Fair Among Them All
(WNDU) - Magic Mirror on the wall, is “Snow White” the best Disney remake of them all? No, buts it’s far from the worst.
A retelling of the 1937 classic that started it all for animated motion pictures; a young princess (played by Rachel Zegler) is cast out of her kingdom by her evil stepmother so the latter can remain “the fairest one of all.” The princess comes across some furry friends and highly entertaining dwarfs named after their distinct personalities who offer a safe place to stay until she can bring peace to her village.
Added to the depths of the story are original characters that more or less don’t add anything to the plot but are still a wholesome welcome.
Despite numerous confirmed and rumored reports of a disastrous time behind the scenes, Rachel Zegler brightens the screen in the titular role and was the perfect casting choice for Disney’s first royal subject. Her singing also captivates emotion and tells us where she stands throughout certain plot points.
Her seven companions (brought to life with half convincing, half video game-looking graphic CGI) remain one of the most watchable parts in the movie. Casting lesser-known actors as the stand-ins and voices was excellent because it allows for the characters to feel more than just someone playing a role.
As far as the story, it sticks to what most of the live action remakes have done: telling the original almost beat for beat, but with an attempted extra layer of depth to everyone involved. In this case, it works for the most part as Snow White has more to do than clean the house and wait for her prince. She’s headstrong, knows her way in the world, and isn’t afraid to take risks: much like “Cinderella” in 2015, it’s a positive update. This adds to themes that are not only brought over but introduced to the classic tale this time around such as standing up for who you are during tough moments in life.
Perhaps the most fascinating element is this movie’s identity and presentation. It knows that it’s a fairy tale and doesn’t shy away from embracing its roots. An example being that our heroes talk to the forest animals, and they communicate back in adorable unique ways. Music adds an important role to any Disney movie and while the original songs are always great for nostalgia factor, the new written material from Benji Pasek and Justin Paul is nothing to be ignored.
If there’s anything bad that viewers are going to be talking about, it’s the over-the-top and cartoonish performance of Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. As mentioned, the movie understands its setting, but Gadot delivers lines of dialogue and body language that don’t fit in any motion picture, whether live action or animation. Fans of the company will also address certain story points that are strikingly similar to films like “Tangled” and “Robin Hood.”
Along with the harsh backlash from cast members and fans, “Snow White” already had big shoes to feel as the original is not only the first ever Disney feature film, but also the first in its genre as a whole.
While it’s far from perfect all the way through (a half in the bag third act on all aspects), “Disney Folly” succeeds once again. It’s enjoyable, fleshed out in more good ways than bad, and allows for a magical escape in a dreamlike world worth the time of day.
- Lacking (a convincing villain)
- Slacking (Well written ending)
- Worth tracking (Music)
- Worth backing (Retelling of a story)
- Fracking good (It’s Lead and Embracing of its Roots)
Grade on the Slacker Scale: B
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