In the last decade of Disney Live Action Remakes, there was a time where I thought remaking Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was forbidden.
The House of Mouse would not even exist today if the 1937 classic (the first of its kind) did not prevail the expectations, so naturally one would suspect that all of Disney knows that some form of respect is due it.
I rewatched it a couple days ago and, despite some questions I had (“Did Snow White only know the dwarves for a day or two?”) it still puts a smile on my face. Still, here we are with another remake, and the result is …a bit varied.
The primary ingredients from the animated film and the book by the Brothers Grimm (unread by me) are present in Marc Webb’s new film, as Snow White (Rachel Zegler) befriends seven dwarfs in her attempt to hide from her stepmother, the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot). Yet when one looks back at the animated film, it is not hard to see that Disney’s first princess was not the most compelling of characters. For a character named “Snow White”, she truly was not entirely fleshed out (perhaps because Disney himself seemed less interested in her and more in her surroundings.)
Simply put,it was inescapable that more back story would be displayed here, as we learn the origins of the princess’s name, and what happened to her parents in childhood (it is no real revelation to say that her parents don’t stay along much in the film). Along with that change is replacing the Prince (who was barely in the original) with a thief named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap).
Then there are the dwarves, who are not as prominent here as they were in 1937 (as it is evident that they are not even mentioned in the title). I’m really in between on how they are portrayed here (yes, they are CGI, which is a little bit of a pill to swallow, yet on the other hand, the CGI animals were tolerable). Certain character changes are made, particularly on the character of Dopey. It was also a bit of a surprise hearing Grumpy yell out “Yippie Ki-Yay!”
If you have been waiting to hear me talk about the controversy about Rachel Zegler being cast in the title role because of her ethnicity, you can keep waiting. The result of casting her is evident on the screen: She is a splendid powerhouse, singing some of the old tunes as well as some new ones (“Waiting on a Wish” being the stand out). As she was in the West Side Story remake and the last Hunger Games movie, she has a magnetism about her when she is on screen that is undeniable.
Then there is Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. Ever since Wonder Woman, she has been a prominent part of everyday culture. Yet her movie choices since then have not been the best (the only other non-Wonder Woman films I have seen her in were Red Notice and Heart of Stone). Granted, she has some big shoes to fill here as the Evil Queen (the first Disney Villain, and the one that all others would look to for inspiration). The result: Gadot is borderline heinous. She may be having fun with some of her musical numbers, but in the end it is more proof she still has a long way to go as an actor.
Parents, the film does still have some of the scares of the original (mainly Snow White entering the forest for the first time). Yet, that is really where most of the scares end (the original had a great sequence of the Evil Queen disguising herself, while here it is severely reduced). The PG rating is fine for any kid over the age of 6 or 7.
I have been rather vocal about the Disney Live Action remakes of the last decade or so, and while I have a few I still have not seen, most have been diminishing returns (with a few exceptions like Cinderella, Christopher Robin, Cruella, and The Little Mermaid). Snow White is not at the level of those films (despite Zegler) but at least is better than the likes of The Lion King (as well as the sequel), Aladdin, Dumbo, and (pause for horripilation) Pinocchio.
I close by saying that I am still waiting on a wish that Disney will comprehend that, in the long run, the live action remakes are not where the good things grow.
Overall:
Nothing else to say 