Disney’s latest live-action remake of “Snow White” may be visually captivating, but it is an ultimately uneven adaptation that struggles to find its footing between nostalgia and modern storytelling. While the film boasts impressive production values and a charming lead performance, it falls short in several key areas.
Rachel Zegler shines as Snow White, making you almost forget how insufferable she appeared on the press junkets, bringing a lovely voice and grounded performance to the role. She even impressed me a few times with her ability to navigate some of the cheesier dialogue in the script, even somewhat infusing the character with a real sense of authenticity. However, their attempt to modernize Snow White into some kind of revolutionary figure feels forced and underdeveloped, and was done much better in 2012’s Snow White & the Hunstman.
Gal Gadot’s portrayal of the Evil Queen starts out very strong, with campy energy reminiscent of something close to a RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant. But eventually her performance becomes one-note, and her obvious lack of vocal prowess is particularly noticeable during her own big musical number.
I know some critics have called the film’s overall aesthetic is described as a “visual feast,” but the biggest blight in the CGI for me was the dwarfs. I could never get over the severe “uncanny valley” effect created by seeing human faces on cartoonish bodies. It’s really jarring and detracted me from the viewing experience, especially during their very famous musical numbers. This was even worse that The Polar Express for me. There were some bright spots throughout, but overall, the film’s visual effects were hit or miss for me.
For me, the most significant disappointment is the new music. Despite Zegler’s impressive vocal talent, the new songs are largely forgettable, a real letdown for a Disney production, where memorable music is typically a cornerstone of the experience. The character development is also pretty hit-or-miss. The love interest (not a prince) lacks any depth and comes across as bland and forgettable, making me wonder if his role was a last minute script change. And the movie’s effort to add some complexity to Snow White’s character through her ambition to become “the leader she knows she can be” feels woefully underdeveloped and fails to fully resonate, although Zegler handles it as well as any actress could.
Despite these shortcomings, “Snow White” does have its moments of charm and visual splendor, particularly the film’s costume design, specifically Gadot’s gowns. And some of the other musical sequences, especially the opening number, was enjoyable. In fact, a lot of the new music worked wonders, adding a light-hearted touch that was quite enjoyable. Some of the comedic elements also hit home, providing a welcome respite from the more serious moments.
Once upon a time, Disney made a much better movie. My overall impression was somewhat marred by the feeling that the original movie was perfectly fine just the way it was. To me, this remake felt unnecessarily slow and boring, reinforcing my skepticism about Disney’s trend of reimagining classic tales. Despite some pleasant surprises, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this remake lacked the magic of its predecessor. In the end, Snow White is a mixed bag that may surprise some viewers with its visual flair and Zegler’s performance, but its uneven storytelling and ocassionally unsettling CGI choices prevent it from fully recapturing the magic of the original animated classic.
It may not be the fairest of them all, but it still offers enough entertainment value to warrant a viewing for Disney fans and families, although I would recommend waiting for it to hit Disney+.
★★ out of ★★★★
*
English (US) · 