Is Disney’s Live-Action Snow White A Bold New Musical Or A Mistake?
It’s no secret that Disney’s new live-action Snow White has been marred with controversy since it was announced. From the casting of Latina actress Rachel Zegler to the political views of Gal Gadot, the backlash on the modernization of the story, and the use of CGI for the Seven Dwarfs, the film hasn’t been without its critics. But is Snow White really as bad as some claim? The short answer is no.
Born during a bitter snowstorm to a good king and queen, Snow White is raised in a kingdom that values strong leadership and an open heart. Just like the message in Mulan to be “Loyal Fair True,” Snow White is guided by her family’s motto: “Fearless, Fair, Brave, and True.” After her mother’s death, a beautiful stranger swoops in to steal the king’s heart, only to turn out to be a sinister queen motivated by her desire to be the fairest of them all. Once she eliminates the king, Snow White is relegated to the help. But when her pure heart finds the Magic Mirror naming her the fairest, the Evil Queen is eager to get rid of her through any means necessary. As Snow White escapes through the forest, the finds allies in the Seven Dwarfs and rebels who fight in the late king’s name. She must find her inner strength to stop her cruel stepmother and reclaim her rightful place as the ruler of the kingdom.
Snow White feels like a brand new musical with its wealth of fresh, original songs that bring the story to life. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the EGOT-winning songwriting duo best known for The Greatest Showman, Dear Evan Hansen, and even music in the live-action Aladdin, bring a classic Broadway energy to the soundtrack. It helps that the cast is filled with numerous Broadway alumni like Zegler, Andrew Burnap, Andrew Barth Feldman, Tituss Burgess, and George Salazar. While there are some classic tracks from the original animated film like “Heigh-Ho” and “Whistle While You Work,” the majority of the songs are new. Each new song is memorable and serves the story well, making this the strongest soundtrack we’ve gotten for a live-action Disney film by far. Zegler brings Snow White to life with her soaring vocals, while Burnap is a worthy replacement for the prince as the bandit Jonathan. They have a sweet chemistry and their duet “A Hand Meets A Hand” is unforgettable. While Gadot does a serviceable job in her role as the Evil Queen, she is the weakest singer of the bunch. However, it is refreshing to see the Evil Queen remain evil in the rise of misunderstood villain arcs.
The visuals in Snow White are vibrant and enchanting, transporting you into this fairytale world. The Seven Dwarfs cottage set is particularly magical. While the Seven Dwarfs look waxy and unsettling at times compared to their human counterparts, you do get used to them as the film progresses. Martin Klebba was a stand out as Grumpy, with Feldman’s Dopey being equally noteworthy. Meanwhile, Jonathan’s band of thieves don’t contribute much to the storyline. While the film updates elements of the story, the classic beats are still there. But rather than waiting for a prince to save the day, Snow White finds an equal to share true love’s kiss with that ultimately allows the kingdom to work together to take down the Evil Queen.
Snow White offers a fresh spin on the classic tale that is elevated to the realm of a new original musical thanks to tracks by Pasek and Paul. While the updates to the story are well executed, they could’ve spent more time fleshing out some of the supporting characters. Despite skepticism around this release, Snow White stands on its own merit as one of the better live-action Disney adaptations.
Snow White hits theaters on March 21.
