Perhaps a bit late to it all, but nonetheless, I rather hesitantly saw Disney's live action remake of the animated classic Aladdin on Father's Day. You see- full disclosure here- I wanted to dislike the film. The movie of an orphan boy who marries a princess seemed so perfectly done the first time, there wasn't much hope for the revision to be a success. In short, it wasn't and it was.
With two very likable leads, Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott, and in an unexpected surprise, a near perfectly cast villain, Marwan Kenzari, it all seemed a very promising affair. Then, unfortunately, Will Smith as Genie shows up and ruins it all.
But it is not entirely his fault. No one actor could do justice to the iconic character played by the lovable Robin Williams. Without the inevitable comparison, Will does his best Hitch impersonation but without a depth of character because the script feels disjointed, rushed, and rather expected. We just don't believe the friendship between Genie and Aladdin that was so central to the success of the original.
Naomi Scott's beautiful voice is wasted on a mediocre, stereotyped, "Speechless", the kind of song full of faux angst all too common in our politically charged world. Yes, Jasmine needed her song. But this was not the one. She deserved better. Authenticity always rings true, and thankfully, Naomi brought this to her role. Her nuanced performance sails past this musical detour, making Jasmine a woman of character. (This seems to be true of Naomi as well. Do a little research on her humanitarian projects. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her in other films.)
Better character development is evident with the evil sorcerer Jafar. Winningly played by Kenzari, viewers quickly forget the thought of any other actor playing the role. His demise is not, however, the big payoff you'd expect, making the live action version far less scary for the little ones than the animated classic.
Unlike the original, Jasmine's father the Sultan is happily not a cartoon buffoon. Navid Negahban brings a grace and dignity to the role. This warm and wise father is willing to learn and to grow and to bless his daughter and her unexpected desires. A true test of a real man. Certainly not a bad lesson for any father to remember on Father's Day.
The sets are beautiful and rich, the costumes detailed and flashy, but the spectacle and modern dance music arrangements and moves take away from the story. "A Whole New World" suffers the most. What once was a beautiful and still thrilling song becomes just another plot device.
There's a trade-off here: Classic Disney storytelling (and eventually DVD sales) is sacrificed to gain short term popularity and ticket sales. This film seems geared toward Bollywood but should also play well in the Islamic Middle East since both Jasmine and Aladdin have lost their skin baring outfits in favor of much more modest attire.
What can I say about the film's title character? Aladdin can be caricature if not handled with utmost care. Somehow in spite of the film's many flaws, Mena Massoud pulls off the delicate balance of con artist and fine young man. His charm and dazzling smile may initially woo the girl and win an audience, but it is the growth and sincerity reflected in his eyes that makes us root for him. And for the movie itself. At least there's one wish granted.
When the film stopped, I expected a "Genie moment" at the end of the credits. It was not to be. It seemed there was nothing left to say, no stories to tell, not even a clever goodbye. This version of Aladdin should be the one to make Disney rethink its cash grab with the live action remakes. In fact, I haven't decided which is worse, the multiple sequels of the animated classics ("Little Mermaid 24") under Michael Eisner or this current trend under the leadership of Robert Iger. They each may win some gold but at the loss of respect and potential. Aladdin learned this lesson. I wish the Walt Disney Company would as well.
(Photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)
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