Review: Aladdin
- Tom
- Jun 12, 2019
- 2 min read
The latest live-action remake of a classic Disney tale brings Aladdin, Jasmine, the Genie and the lamp back to the big screen.
Disney took a huge risk when choosing to make this film. The remakes have been largely hit or miss with fans and this one had a lot to live up to. The question on everyone’s mind was how could anyone replace Robin Williams as the Genie? When it was announced that Will Smith was cast in the iconic role, fan reaction was mixed at best. With all negative hype aside, this modern-day retelling is a treasure.
Traditional yet fresh, this new "Aladdin" is a lot of fun. Beautifully shot, the story of Aladdin and the lamp loses none of its magic in the transition. Newcomer Mena Massoud was a perfect casting choice for Aladdin and his chemistry with Naomi Scott’s Princess Jasmine is both electric and entirely believable.
Against all odds, Will Smith’s Genie is funny, charismatic and wildly entertaining. Smith made the smart choice to make the character his own, rather than try and imitate Williams. I found myself laughing out loud more than I thought I would at most of his jokes. Marwen Kenzari's Jafar comes off as less menacing than the animated version, but that somehow makes him feel a bit more realistic so I didn't mind it.
As far as the music goes, the classic score and songs are beautifully recreated. There are times when you can tell that Mena Massoud is not used to singing but he does a pretty damn good job for his first time. Princess Jasmine gets her own brand new original song and Naomi Scott was more than capable of making it memorable.
The famous musical numbers are transformed into gorgeous, over-the-top CGI spectacles. Smith brings some hip-hop flavor to "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali" which manages to freshen up the old tunes without losing any of their old magic. The results are surprisingly fun to watch and I've definitely found the new versions stuck in my head on more than one occasion. Similar to the "Be Our Guest" sequence in 2017's "Beauty and the Beast," the CGI during "A Whole New World" can be a bit overwhelming. However, Massoud and Scott's singing and undeniable chemistry make up for it.
FINAL THOUGHTS: While it’s not exactly a whole new world and Disney purists may find a few things not to their liking, this new "Aladdin" is a magic carpet ride of fun for all ages.
OVERALL GRADE: B+
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