Magic mirror on the wall, will live-action adaptations be Disney’s downfall? That question persists year after year as butchered remakes of childhood classics come out like clockwork. Disney’s latest addition to this lackluster collection, “Snow White,” misses all the marks, making this movie an unredeemable and botched version of the original.
About the Story
In a kingdom once filled with kindness and prosperity, Snow White struggles to find her place after her father’s death and the ascension of her evil stepmother, the new queen. As the queen’s obsession with beauty and power wreaks misery upon their subjects, Snow White is forced to confront the reality of her kingdom’s suffering.
When Snow White escapes into the forest, she allies herself with a merry band of misfits who help her navigate friendship, growth, and love. As she realizes her strength, Snow White accepts that she has the power to vanquish the queen’s reign of terror and bring peace to the kingdom.
Ultimately, Snow White must embrace her role as a leader and rise to the challenge. With her newfound courage and friends, she must face the queen to restore peace and reclaim the kingdom’s future.
Is It Worth Watching?
Given the disastrous press the movie got prior to its release, expectations were not very high for a quality storyline. Amazingly, Snow White managed to trip over the already low bar. During the movie’s press tour, the cast made a point to emphasize the fact that the movie will focus more on Snow White’s journey to becoming a leader. However, the film’s awkward pacing and bad script made Snow White’s character development feel forced and unnatural. Surprisingly, the character with the greatest development arc was Dopey, the dwarf.
Speaking of the dwarves, the CGI used to create them bore no resemblance to the beloved childhood sidekicks, but instead created Uncanny Valley imitations of the original. Given the amount of special effects that were used to construct them, the set, and the animals, it would be more accurate to consider this movie a reanimated version of the original rather than a live-action adaptation. The overzealous use of special effects retracts from the film and prevents the viewer from being immersed in the movie.
The one redeeming aspect of this movie was the strong performance from Rachel Zegler as Snow White. Despite the movie leaving much to be desired, Zegler’s vocals carry the otherwise mediocre soundtrack. Her acting performance especially shines next to Gal Gadot’s portrayal of the Evil Queen, which is stiff and unconvincing.
Verdict
For those searching for a nostalgic and whimsical reminder of their childhood fairytales, keep on looking. Snow White (2025) doesn’t hold a candle to the magic Disney was once heralded for.
Rating: 2/5
