“Fearless, fair, brave, true…how quaint.” –Evil Queen
If you know me, I was a true believer that there was never any “fairest of them all” when it came to Disney’s live-action reimaginings, with Maleficent and Cinderella being the rare exception. So, as someone who hasn’t particularly enjoyed the majority of Disney’s remakes of their classic animated films, nor a fan of the 1937 animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, I can easily say that I was pleasantly surprised by this iteration of Snow White.
Snow White begins with a more in-depth look at the titular character and her Kingdom. Young Snow White (Emilia Faucher) tours the kingdom with her parents. The Good King (Hadley Fraser), Good Queen (Lorena Andrea) and the young princess are beloved by all and rule with fairness and kindness. However, when the queen dies after an unexpected illness, and Snow White’s father remarries, the shift in the Kingdom is palpable. Unbeknownst to Snow White, her new stepmother and eventual Evil Queen (Gal Gadot) is not entirely what she seems. With a magic mirror at her beck and call, the Evil Queen is vain, but what truly motivates her is ambition, and she will stop at nothing to get what she wants, even if that means erasing Snow White (Rachel Zegler) from the picture.
Directed by Marc Webb and written by Erin Cressida Wilson, Snow White easily captures the charm of the original while offering something new. Snow White is no longer a mere damsel in distress, but a character with depth and resilience. Wilson’s portrayal of Snow White as more than just the scullery maid the Evil Queen forced her to be is a refreshing take. The changes and additions to Snow White’s story were well done, and most importantly, Snow White’s most beloved traits, kindness and fairness of heart, remain steadfast throughout the movie, making her a character to root for.
Rachel Zegler’s portrayal of Snow White is a standout. No notes! She brings the character to life with her lovely singing voice. Zegler’s performances of the new songs from the film, such as “Waiting On A Wish” and “A Hand Meets A Hand” are a delight, showcasing her vocal prowess. Zegler is believable as the kindly princess and has great on-screen chemistry with her co-stars. As the lead character, Zegler easily carries the movie, demonstrating her excellent screen presence and performing skills.
Opposite Snow White is Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen. To quote Keke Palmer, “I hate to say it, and I hope I don’t sound ridiculous,” but I thought Gadot’s performance here was serviceable (likely in the minority, I’m sure). It teetered between cartoonish villainy and campiness, or the glowering Evil Queen many would be used to from the 1937 animated version of the film. However, going between these two things made parts of the performance feel inconsistent. My preference was the Evil Queen in her more menacing moments. With her tall frame and the looks she levies at whichever character is opposite, Gadot can be intimidating. There is a moment when she puts the crown on her head, and the subtle smile on her face is pitch-perfect as she revels in her power. Her facial expressions, as good as they are, do much of the heavy lifting.
That said, after the Evil Queen has her transformation as the Old Hag (kudos to the makeup and prosthetics team because their work making Gadot unrecognizable was fantastic), this moment marks a significant shift in the character’s arc. As the Old Hag, Gadot’s performance is surprisingly good, particularly with the voice change. The Evil Queen’s villain song, “All Is Fair,” is one of the catchier tunes in the movie and makes for an excellent villain song, perfectly encapsulating the Evil Queen’s vanity, motivations and wants.
Andrew Burnap, as Jonathan, holds his own with the two leading ladies and brings a grounded charm as Snow White’s love interest. While Burnap does a fine job, my main issue was with the character. He was essentially a Flynn Rider/Robin Hood hybrid, and since Disney will likely do a live-action Tangled movie in the future, it is strange to have a character so similar to Rider. Of course, this isn’t Burnap’s fault; he does well with the material he’s given. It also felt a little strange to have the Jonathan character in the first place when there was all that talk about the princess not being saved by the prince. Jonathan may not be a prince, but he certainly still does some saving.
The dwarves were a mixed bag. The voice acting was great, especially Martin Klebba as Grumpy, but the CGI element was sometimes distracting. However, I am sure kids will love them and their antics, and songs from the animated film like the “Silly Song” just add to the fun regarding the magical dwarves.
As I’ve mentioned a few of the songs, I would like to thank Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for their songwriting prowess. The songs throughout the movie are not just memorable, but also fun and catchy, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the film. The updates to the songs carried over from the 1937 animated version work well, and there wasn’t a song that I disliked. Did some work better, or were catchier than others? Sure, but the musical numbers were quite enjoyable for the film’s scope. The movie follows the traditional musical format, from the main numbers to their related reprises, and I must say, I loved that about Snow White.
Aside from the performances and music, Snow White shines with Sandy Powell’s costume design. From the villagers to the royal guards to the Evil Queen, Powell again demonstrates why she is one of today’s most sought-after costume designers. The Evil Queen’s wardrobe is exceptionally fabulous. Powell gave the Evil Queen a specific colour palette, which she described as “Strong, bruised colours – intimidating in a way.” From the sequins that catch and shift with the light with each of her movements to the jewels adorning her hands and neck, every look was more show-stopping than the next.
In addition, the sound department did a phenomenal job with the music and sounds throughout Snow White; everything was crisp and clear. The sound effects, from the sound of a twig snapping in the forest to the birds singing along with Snow White, played a crucial role in creating the film’s immersive atmosphere. The way the Evil Queen’s rings clinked together when she moved her hands added a layer of detail to her character. Each sound was fantastic and contributed to the overall experience of the film.
All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by Disney’s live-action Snow White. Wilson’s screenplay gave the lead character much more to do this time, and the updates were a breath of fresh air combined with the magical musical numbers. With great messages about community, standing up for what is right, and remaining fearless, fair, brave, and true even in the face of cruelty, Snow White is one of the better Disney live-action reimaginings. I can easily say that it was a lovely time at the theatre, and the kids will undoubtedly enjoy it.
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