REVIEW: Is ‘Snow White’ the Fairest Disney Princess Remake of Them All?
REVIEW: Is ‘Snow White’ the Fairest Disney Princess Remake of Them All?
Rachel Zegler as Snow White | The Walt Disney Studios
The story of Snow White has been repeated many times and has been referenced in pop culture countless times as it has been deemed as one of the most popular fairy tales in history. This time around, Disney’s Snow White is not just a remake but also a retelling of the studio’s 1937 gem Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Rachel Zegler plays the titular role alongside Gal Gadot, playing the Evil Queen.
The story remains structured similarly to its counterpart from over eight decades ago. The little princess — Snow White, is kept in a castle after being orphaned by her parents, working as a servant, and left to her stepmother — the Evil Queen. The Queen is envious and hungry for power, and Snow White’s existence, being referred to as the fairest one of all by her magic mirror, threatens her.
Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen | The Walt Disney Studios
I have always dampened my hope regarding Disney’s live-action remakes for a while. It was a hit-or-miss (a lot of misses) since it remotely caters to adults who grew up watching the animated classics and trying to relive their younger years, heavily banking on the nostalgia trend a lot of people are hopping on. Still, I think it's time to let go of the entitlement that a particular generation owns a specific story and just appreciate the film and let the younger audience enjoy it for what it is.
I would say this is one of the most successful remakes of a Disney Princess movie, dethroning Cinderella in my books. Rachel Zegler breathes new life to the inaugural Disney Heiress with an impeccable performance, as expected. I honestly had no doubts about her acting chops and vocal prowess ever since seeing her in West Side Story (2021) and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023). The princess anthem has been a staple for every Disney Princess known for the viewers to know the goal or aspirations of the heroine, and Waiting on a Wish definitely delivered. Whistle While You Work was a song from the animated precursor and it was also a fun time — and a hard one to get out of your system after since it gets stuck in your head even after the film.
Disney’s reimagining of their films has met a lot of pushback from the nostalgia crowd, some saying it was a deliberate cash grab preying on people’s sentimentality — which can be valid in particular aspects. Specific changes can cause a loss of sense of magic and fantasy due to the rigid commitment to the realism of live-action remakes. That critique will probably come to one’s mind when you lay eyes on the seven beloved dwarfs.
On the contrary, animals were done beautifully, and so were the set and costume designs. A criticism from others that I cannot get behind is regarding changes to the remakes being ‘too woke,’ especially amplified by the much more conservative crowd. The 1937 film may be pivotal for its animation, but still, it is far from perfect narrative-wise, even by the standards of that time. The writers today did a terrific job filling in the gaps in the original story and updating certain narratives that don’t fit well in today’s political climate. It was nuanced enough to feel genuine and did not appear performative.
Jonathan (Andrew Burnap) and Snow White (Rachel Zegler) | The Walt Disney Studios
The removal of the prince garnered a lot of negative feedback even before the film’s release, and to no surprise, it worked out pretty well. The character was substituted by a bandit named Jonathan, played by Andrew Burnap and also Snow White's love interest. He leads a group of subversives against the kingdom who fight in the name of the lost king. This may seem odd on paper, but it worked out well. It is not new that the Disney remakes are trying to lean away from the ‘damsel-in-distress’ trope, and Snow White was successful with the romantic plot feeling more earned as they show a natural progression for the affection to grow.
I am amused by the comments of people appalled by this decision before the release, as if the absence of a prince for a widely-known fairytale wasn’t done for Disney’s own spin on Rapunzel with Tangled. We should be more concerned about Gal Gadot’s performance, which is just excruciating. It seems like she’s unable to sustain a good performance the lengthier the screen time she has. The Huntsman, played by Ansu Kabia, gave a more moving performance than Gadot, and it’s safe to say I got more emotionally swayed by the Dwarfs than her subpar performance. Her own performance of an original song from this remake All Is Fair should have not existed in the first place, or if this song was truly integral in this film, it just affirms my stance that she was unfit to be The Evil Queen.
Despite the public’s perception, both valid and invalid, I honestly had a marvelous time with this film. The magic was present, and I had such a wonderful time. I would give this film another try once it gets released on streaming platforms, but I would recommend watching in the theaters to families who want to enjoy a modern take on a Disney Princess classic.
