by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer
How do you make a woman that wants to maim and kill puppies relatable in any way? How on Earth do you base an entire movie around someone who’s claim to fame is as a dog snatcher and animal torturer?
These are the main questions that must be at the forefront of many going in to see Disney’s latest remake, Cruella. I know it was certainly in my mind as I hit play on Disney+. Honestly, I didn’t expect much from this one. From what I’d seen, I expected an overpriced, unnecessary foray into the backstory of a villain that not many would have cared to know about, including me.
So color me surprised when upon its end, I found myself not only having not hated my viewing experience, but having thoroughly enjoyed it!
But I digress…
Set in ’70s London on the forefront of the emerging punk rock scene, the film follows Emma Stone as Estella, a young grifter who, alongside her band of thieves, journeys through a series of revenge-led events that reveal a darker, fabulous Cruella lurking underneath.
Now, the first thing to say is that Emma Stone is a triumph. With the teased over-the top British accent and a larger-than-life character, I was doubtful that she would be able to pull it off — and I couldn’t have been more wrong. Fully leaning in to the absolute ridiculous confidence and style of Cruella De Vil, Stone fully embodies the protagonist villain and plays her with a certain edge that always has you wondering what on Earth would happen next.
On the flip side, she is also well balanced by her two thief counterparts, Horace (Paul Walter Hauser) and Jasper (Joel Fry). High in the banter and dimension, they are believable as her side kicks, but manage to have larger-than-life characters in their own right, which results in a good time no matter who’s on screen.
While there are some other performers worth noting, such as the intriguing Mark Strong, and the David Bowie-esque John McCrea, the other real stand out is of course Dame Emma Thompson herself. Playing the brutal, yet brilliant Baroness, the further into the movie you get, the more you realize that none other could have possibly been a contender for the role.
There are scenes between Stone and Thompson where the pure talent and charisma on screen is at such high of a level, that honestly the movie could have just been that, and I would have walked away happy.
Nothing quite makes me more giddy than seeing people do what they do best, while having a lot of fun at the same time, and its clear that this is the truth for the entire cast of characters.
Having said that, the story is not one to be scoffed at. Culminating in a movie that is part heist film and part The Devil Wears Prada, it’s in a word, entertaining. Co-written by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, the verbal jousting taking place is only matched by the truly intricate and interesting scenarios the characters find themselves in. This is not surprising, however, when you realize that McNamara is the mind from which alternate history spectacles like The Favourite and The Great come from.
And all of this is just so well paired with some honestly insane production. From the absolutely stunning costuming, to the fantastical, yet accurate, set design, this movie is a feast for the eyes as much as it is for a cinephile’s heart. Top it off with a truly vibrant soundtrack and you almost get a perfect Friday night experience.
Almost.
After all this praise, it may seem like there would be nothing left for it to be criticised on. However, this is not so. While wildly entertaining, there are still some areas that needed some marked improvement.
For one, I’d say that the first 10-20 minutes is a little confusing and unevenly paced in how it introduces the story. Marred by some below average child actors, and a plodding introductory series of events, I wasn’t sold on it until Stone entered frame and took it away. From that, it does seem that without both Emmas, this could have been exceedingly ordinary. Luckily, as the movie has a longer than normal runtime, sitting at around 134 minutes, this part only makes up about 10% of the entire watch.
On top of that, there was also some very questionable animal CGI that felt unnecessary and about 20 years old in its quality. It seems that when it came to this part of the post-production process, the $200 million budget had begun to run thin, as it certainly wasn’t up to par with most of Disney’s recent efforts. The quality was so poor that it took me out of the movie on more than one occasion due to its mere rubbery nature, especially considering some of the moments it was chosen to be used.
So, at the end of the day is it worth it? Against all odds, not only did they make the aforementioned puppy killer a character worth rooting for, but Disney managed to make her one that was captivating and memorable all in one swoop. Whether you are someone who loves the ’60s original, are a fan of the cast, or are just looking to enjoy something familiar and yet unique in its own way, this is one for you. Proving that Emma squared is a force to be reckoned with, this movie is brilliant, bad (in the slang way) and yes, a little bit mad.
Grade: A-
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