Megan King is a friend of mine who loves all things Disney, this past week she went and saw Aladdin and asked if I would publish her review on here. I’m always happy to work with fellow writers especially when they’re writing about something fandom related! Sound off in the comments with your thoughts of the film!
Imagine this: 1992, a 6-year-old girl in love with pink, princesses, and everything girlie, excitedly going to see the new princess movie in theaters with her mom. This 6-year-old whose life goal was to grow up to be a princess, being entranced by this colorful, fun, funny movie, watching a princess who spoke her mind, who was clever, who knew who she was and what she wanted, rallying against the traditions set upon her.
This was the take away I had as a small child when I watched Aladdin, this was the impression that stuck with me. The ‘prince’ being clever, quick-witted, golden hearted, and at the end of the day, honest and loyal. Watching how grown-ups could make mistakes that weren’t always great, but when push came to shove, they always made the right choices, and there was the happily ever after.
Princess Jasmine has always been in my top 3 favorite Disney Princesses (along with Princess Aurora and Princess Belle, but that’s another story), and it was her spirit that earned her that spot, regardless of how much I also loved her outfit, her hair, and definitely wanted a shiny tiara and giant gold earrings myself (honestly, how are her earlobes not stretched to her shoulders from the weight of those monsters??).
When Disney announced they were doing a live-action version of Aladdin, I was thrilled. I remember the backlash when Naomi Scott was cast, but that never bothered me because I loved her as the Pink Power Ranger, whom was also another character I very much wanted to be as a little girl. And then there was the backlash when Will Smith was announced to be taking on the role of the Genie. How could anyone replace Robin Williams, the country cried. I believe that was the first thing wrong with our collective thinking, that anyone could or was trying to replace Robin Williams as the Genie. It immediately discredited Smith’s capabilities in such role, and now having seen the movie, I think was a gross disservice to such a talented man.
Guy Ritchie seemed to approach the movie with the intention of not only upholding the character of the 1992 animated film, but to bring that film into the 21st century. I want to make it clear that my knowledge of the middle east, their culture, and their traditions is extremely limited, and because of this reason, if any cultural sensitive issues were touched upon, they happened without my notice. That being said, Agrabah itself feels like it exists, with its busy streets, full of life that is both prosperous and despairing. You see the wealth of some citizens in direct contrast to the poverty next to it.
When you first see Aladdin, he’s faithfully introduced as the clever, thieving street rat his story starts out as, with his faithful companion and partner in crime, Abu the monkey. The movie progresses in very much the same fashion the animated classic does: the street rat and the monkey, the street rat meets the girl and saves the day, the monkey isn’t a fan of the girl, street rat and girl have a connection but have to go their separate ways. Street rat gets caught up with the Royal Vizier, street rat goes into the Cave of Wonders and discovers the lamp, a situation which the monkey inevitably screws up. Street rat gets the lamp, meets the genie, woos the girl, faces against the bad guy, and wins the day. To be expected.
What wasn’t for certain, was the certain charm Will Smith has that he brought to the genie, who does less physical shtick of changing forms, faces, and impressions, but has a more Smith branded style of humor and way of speaking. You could never forget that this is Will Smith you’re looking at, while simultaneously always aware that this was the Genie.
Aladdin in the animated version always had some line, some move, something that just oozed charm. He only seemed to bumble around maybe once, and in this live action version, we get a whole scene where he’s so nervous he just straight embarrasses himself. For me, this really drives the believability, the realism of his character home more than his animated counterpart ever had. Mena Massoud’s interpretation of his character is incredible and gave Aladdin a new kind of depth that he may have otherwise lacked.
Princess Jasmine, in this live action version, is nothing short of a well-educated spitfire, motivated by the compassion she has for her subjects. The men in her home life seem to use her femininity against her, a situation that is driven home when Jafar tells her that a woman’s place is to be seen and not heard. Naomi Scott brings so much heart and power to this character, who keeps rebelling against long standing traditions of women not having a place, not having a voice, by insisting she be heard, by her abject refusal to marry a man who she not only does not love but refusing to marry a man that she cannot have a conversation with. In the live action version, it is Jasmine’s voice that makes a difference in the power struggle between Jafar and the Sultan, who gives Aladdin an opportunity to take to defeat their common enemy. It is Jasmine’s voice that prompts the Sultan to choose the fate of his kingdom, and gives Jasmine the ability to say who she will marry.
There is enough in this live-action version that has changed that had made me reluctant to share too many specific details, but know that the heart, soul, and integrity of the movie have been upheld and have been fantastically executed. Did I cry? Absolutely, I cried a few times. Should you go see it? Absolutely.
I give this movie a 4/5 Happily Ever After’s
