ALADDIN isn’t exactly a diamond in the rough but it’s considerably better than the trailers made it look. At the very least, it works to much stronger effect than Disney’s live-action versions of both BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and DUMBO thanks to Guy Ritchie‘s high energy direction, sumptuous production design, and, for the most part, a pretty appealing cast.
In this spirited adaptation of Disney’s classic 1992 animated feature, a kind-hearted street urchin called Aladdin (Mena Massoud) engages in an adventure that finds him crossing paths with royalty, a genie, and a powerful adversary named Jafar (Marwan Kenzari.) The big issue going into this one was whether or not “Aladdin” would truly translate to a live-action setting because the 1992 film is the very personification of “animated.” And it goes well beyond the great Robin Williams‘s manic (and iconic) vocal work as Genie.
Disney’s ALADDIN has a rhythm, energy, and a tone that simply screams “cartoon!” Enter director Guy Ritchie, of all people! A filmmaker known primarily for hyper-stylized, gritty crime sagas like SNATCH and LOCK, STOCK, AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS. While a few of Ritchie’s trademark flourishes are visible, this might be one of the most non-Guy Ritchie Guy Ritchie movies you’re likely to see.
What’s more, you can feel his genuine affection for the source material. You can also feel his affection for Indiana Jones in a few of this film’s bigger set pieces. What’s more, Ritchie holds true to the 1993 animated feature’s musical roots by collaborating with the great Alan Menken. They’ve even expanded the musical scope of this live-action version by the way of extra music.
As for the look of the picture, Disney has spared absolutely no expense. The sets are gorgeous, the costume design is breathtaking, and the visual effects are pretty great, most notably carpet, Abu, Iago, and Rajah.
In terms of performances, let’s go ahead and address the blue elephant in the room: Will Smith! His initial casting wasn’t exactly met with the kindest of feedback and once the first trailers for this picture dropped, faith wasn’t exactly restored. That said, in the context of the actual movie, Smith is pretty good! No one was ever going to “replace” the genius that was Robin Williams and to Smith’s great credit, he doesn’t try to replace him. The Fresh Prince simply sets out to honor the spirit of Williams’s portrayal all while putting his own unique spin on the proceedings.
Massoud is affable enough as the diamond in the rough that is Aladdin bringing a boyish charm and exuberance to the role while lovely Naomi Scott hits all the right notes, literally, as Jasmine. If there’s a poor casting choice in ALADDIN, it’s Kenzari as Jafar. He’s not terrible in the role but he isn’t particularly dynamic, either. ALADDIN could have used a bigger than life superstar in the role of the bigger-than-life Jafar.
All of that said, this take on ALADDIN is lively and entertaining. It’s a little on the long side and it doesn’t quite hold a candle to the animated feature that inspired it but it’s a very pleasant time at the movies and should more than tide fans over until THE LION KING drops this July.
