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| Courtesy of Disney |
By Daniel Andrade
I must start this review with a confession: the animated Aladdin movie is easily my favorite Disney film of all time. I grew up on that film, watching it constantly and repeatedly throughout my childhood, so much so that I could practically quote the entire film. Maybe it was because there was a brown character screen that I could relate to. Maybe it was the unforgettable songs that I would hum or sing aloud long after the film had ended. Maybe it was Robin William’s iconic performance as the genie. Whatever the reason, Aladdin was, and remains to this day, my favorite Disney movie, and easily one of my Top 5 movies in general.
So when I saw that they were remaking it in live action, I was in a weird position. On the one hand, seeing this movie come to life in a way I would’ve never imagined was exciting for me, there was a lot of potential. But on the other hand, this is a movie that is so important to me and holds such a pivotal role in my life, I was nervous they were going to mess it up and just end up disappointing me. I had seen the Aladdin musical play as well, and while I enjoyed it, it definitely changed up the story I was so familiar with significantly, and obviously some things that are so easy to animate could simply not be replicated in real life. Additionally, the music was slightly different and even felt slower at times. So if that’s what live-action was going to do to my beloved original movie, I was not looking forward to it. Suffice to say, I went into the movie with low expectations, prepared to be disappointed but still hoping to find some enjoyable moments.
I’m happy to say that this movie did not disappoint me as much as the musical did. I will admit they changed a lot of the story, in an attempt to make it slightly more realistic and more relevant for our times, which definitely caught me off guard. But thankfully, the big moments from the original movie that I was hoping to see were there, and were overall very satisfying to see on the big screen.
Let’s begin with the casting. Mena Massoud plays an excellent Aladdin, with the character’s trademark charm shining through in him. He certainly adds more physicality to the role through his parkour and dancing skills, which makes him even more fun to see on screen. He is able to handle all of the big songs very well, being playful and also somber and reflective to match the lyrics as needed. Naomi Scott plays a fierce and ambitious Jasmine, which is exactly what this Disney princess should be. She was always the more rebellious and empowering of the Disney princesses, and Scott captures that beautifully. Her singing is by far the most impressive of the entire cast, and really strikes an emotional chord not just with her vocal abilities, but with the passionate way she brings these lyrics to life. Will Smith admitted himself that playing the role of Genie, as previously portrayed by Robin Williams, was a gargantuan task, one that he almost passed on because of the big shoes he had to fill. But thankfully, he stuck with the role, because he honestly is a lot of fun and adds his own charm to the role that reminds me of his Fresh Prince days. He added his own flavor to the legendary Genie songs, but still kept enough of the original magic from Williams’s versions to please the fans. His comedic timing is great, and the chemistry he has with Massoud is exactly what you expect for this awesome friendship. Marwan Kenzari plays an intimidating Jafar, power-hungry and not content with being second to anyone. Iago is still in this movie, but is not nearly as talkative and hilarious as his animated counterpart, which leaves Jafar with much more screen-time to be villainous and menacing. Nasim Pedrad plays a fun new character, Jasmine’s handmaiden Dalia, a straightforward woman who has some genuinely funny moments; her comedic skills developed during her time at SNL are showcased brilliantly here.
Visually, the movie is stunning. From the gorgeous costume designs (Jasmine’s dresses are simply jaw dropping, and Jafar’s dark persona is matched well with his outfits), to the luscious scenery (Agrabah is a beautiful sight to behold, from the bustling streets to the nearby pier to the Cave of Wonders), there is no denying that this movie is awesome to watch, and is filled with characters that feel like they live in that community. The visual affects are impressive as well. I know there was a lot of backlash to our first look at Will Smith bright and blue as the genie, but I have to say he came out looking great, and his magic dust that accompanies everything he does is fun and indeed magical. Smith brings his own style and energy into Genie’s wild moments, and they are fun to see on screen. Abu, the Magic Carpet, and Iago all look wonderful and pretty realistic. Not only are all your favorite songs from the original movie there (though maybe slightly modified in one way or another, either due to stylistic choices or to make the lyrics more relevant), but there are some wonderful dance scenes as well that pay homage to bhangra and middle eastern dance. There are definitely some moments that I was really hoping to see come to life on the big screen that didn’t quite pan out the way I had imagined, but it was balanced out by other moments that absolutely took my breath away and were better than I could have hoped for.
CONCLUSION: While the story is altered in many ways, the overall magic of the original film still can be felt in this live-action adaptation. It is visually stunning, still has fun and catchy music, and is supported by an excellent cast that really gives it their all to make this childhood classic come to life. I can’t give it a perfect score because it could never compare to the original, at least in my opinion, but I also do believe it’s worth seeing on the big screen.
FINAL SCORE: 4/5
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