Disney’s latest remake of their animated library has finally arrived! And this time, it’s an adaptation of the film that started arguably started it all, Snow White.
Snow White is an all-at-once energetic, colorful, magical, and charming retelling of the 1937 animated classic. Yet, it still respectfully updates the source material for modern audiences.
In this remake, the titular princess once again must deal with the tyranny of her step-mother (also known as the Evil Queen). After the Queen’s Magic Mirror dubs Snow White “the fairest of them all,” she tries to take her out of the picture. But Snow White flees to the nearby forest, where she encounters seven magical dwarfs and a group of rebels that help her restore the kingdom from Queen’s treachery.
Director Marc Webb has delivered a truly special remake of one other most important films in not just cinema history, but for the Mouse House too! The visuals in this film are gorgeous, enchanting and extremely reminiscent to the paintings that Thomas Kinkade’s done for Disney.
Webb’s particularly able to nail a storybook fairytale feel that most fantasy films wish they could subscribe to. From the kingdom to the Dwarves’ home and the forest, the film exudes an intoxicating aesthetic. There are also many nods and Easter eggs from the 1937 classic film sprinkled from beginning to end (which we won’t spoil) that fans will love.
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Rachel Zegler gives an outstanding performance as the Disney’s “first princess.” She truly carries the whole film with her angelic singing voice, but will absolutely nail audiences over with the way she carries herself. From her mannerisms to her elegant speaking, she knows what it means to be a Disney Princess and does not disappoint.
Now, Zegler’s take on Snow White is who hugely different from the original while still maintaining her spirits. This film explores more of her on becoming the rightful ruler of the kingdom by showing kindness by trying to get it back from the Evil Queen.
The script is very nuance and has so much depth to what being the fairest truly means is not just based on looks, it’s about treating the world with love, fair and kindness that’ll lift people up with life and energy and that’s what makes Snow White a great character and a few new twists.
Andrew Burnap plays Jonathan, an update to Prince Charming and a scene-stealer manages some crazy chemistry with Zegler’s Snow White. They’re romance is very heartwarming and fully developed that you can’t help but fall in love with them either.
Admittedly, Jonathan’s character is very much like a Robin Hood though. He steals from the rich and feed to the poor. He even has a group of rebel bandits who sadly are not very well developed and we don’t get a chance to know them well or even cared for them since their counterparts to Snow White’s friendship with the Seven Dwarfs.
But the Seven Dwarfs do look great, despite being some heavily animated characters. Sometimes the VFX does look very wonky, but they bring so much comedy and heart that it’s forgivable. The CGI animals are undeniably adorable with their cute emotions.
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Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen is a very much a mustache- twirling cartoonish villain. Unlike the original, we even get a small and quick backstory for her that explores how she got her magic. Her performance is anything but magical though. It is serviceable though, and there’s no denying she looks stunning in the role. At the very least, her performance highlights Sandy Powell’s great costume design.
Gadot has a song called “All is Fair” which is very good, but definitely sounds autotuned. That sequence highlights how miscast Gadot is and how much of a missed opportunity it might have been to cast an actress who isn’t trained to sing like Zegler is.
Speaking of songs, we’re pleased to report that some of the original songs return like “Heigh-Ho” and “Whistle While You Work,” but there’s also some new ones written by music duo Pasek and Paul. Some of the songs that standout are “Waiting on a Wish”, “Good Things Grow”, and “Princess Problems.” And all of the musical numbers are very entertaining and catchy to watch.
Despite a couple of flaws, and many new additions, this version of Snow White is one of the best live-action remakes to date. While it could have just been a shot-for-shot remake, it succeeds because Zegler and company are clearly committed to making something fresh. Audiences of all ages will be delighted with the classic story being adapted for a whole new generation that’s fun, heartwarming and magical.
Snow White hits theaters this Friday!
