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Review: ‘Snow White’ is an Enchanting Live-Action Remake that Remains Faithful to the Spirit of the Original while Revising It for Modern Audiences
March 20, 2025Ben MK
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Over 100 films in nearly a century is no small feat, but Walt Disney Animation Studios certainly makes it look easy. Whether it's beloved classics like Pinocchio, Aladdin and The Little Mermaid or modern family favorites like Moana, Zootopia and Frozen, everyone has at least one Disney animated movie that they grew up watching, and that they still hold dear to their heart. It's a testament to the studio's storytelling prowess and the talent of its animators that the vast majority of its works still resonate with viewers to this day. And with the new live-action remake of Snow White, Disney is paying homage to its very first animated film, in this retelling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Starring Rachel Zegler in the titular role, the story is a familiar one. Once the darling of her kingdom, Princess Snow White (Zegler) finds her world turned upside down when her father, the King, goes missing and her evil stepmother, the Queen (Gal Gadot), takes over the throne. Obsessed only with beauty and power, not to mention the massive quantities of diamonds buried deep within the ground below, the Queen rules over her subjects with an iron fist, forcing many of them — including Snow White — to work for her. But when the Princess encounters a seemingly everyday thief named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap) one day, she's suddenly awakened to the plight of the population beyond the palace gates. The leader of a small band of rebels who live in the forest at the outskirts of the kingdom, Jonathan represents the ordinary citizen — one of many who have been shunned by the Queen. Little does Snow White realize, however, that she'll soon wind up on the receiving end of the Queen's wrath, after the latter's all-knowing Magic Mirror declares the former to be the fairest one of them all. Forced to flee deep into the woods after the Queen's Huntsman (Ansu Kabia) — who's been ordered by his master to murder the Princess — spares her life instead, Snow White soon encounters a group of seven diminutive miners who go by the names of Doc (Jeremy Swift), Sneezy (Jason Kravits), Grumpy (Martin Klebba), Happy (George Salazar), Bashful (Tituss Burgess), Sleepy (Andy Grotelueschen) and Dopey (Andrew Barth Feldman). What happens next, however, proves to be a surprise not only to these dwarfs, but to the Princess herself, after the Queen dispatches her most ruthless soldiers into the forest to kill Snow White. Teaming up with both the seven dwarfs and the rebels, Snow White must fight back against the Queen, using little more than a handful of makeshift weapons and their steely resolve. But when the Queen resorts to dark magic to concoct a sinister spell that will subdue Snow White for good, will her new friends be able to work together to thwart the Queen's plan? Or will evil prevail over good, plunging the once-fruitful kingdom into a new era of darkness? Directed by Marc Webb and featuring a crowd-pleasing array of sing-along-worthy tunes written by The Greatest Showman and La La Land songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the result is arguably the most enchanting Disney live-action remake to come along in years — a title previously held by 2015's Cinderella. Yet while Snow White is much more of an enjoyable affair than the likes of such remakes as Dumbo, The Lion King and Mulan combined, there are sure to be those who will criticize the movie, especially for its casting. Make no mistake, there are undoubtedly some flaws in the logic of choosing Zegler and Gadot for their respective roles. Ultimately, though, both actresses are able to perfectly embody their characters, due in no small part to some timely script updates and some genuinely fantastic additions to the original's assortment of beloved songs. Throw in a dash of The Princess Bride, some of the most eye-catching production and costume design this side of Maleficent, and well-woven-in themes about overcoming tyranny and bullying, and you have a remake that's destined to be just as adored as the original. What's most impressive about Snow White, however, isn't how it manages to revise the story for modern audiences, but how it also stays faithful to the spirit of its 1937 predecessor in the process. It's a lofty goal other Disney remakes have strived to achieve, mostly with middling success. Thanks to Zegler and Gadot's committed performances and the film's magical musical numbers, however, fairy tale fans can finally have that elusive happy ending they've been longing for. Snow White releases March 21st, 2025 from Walt Disney Studios. The film has an MPAA rating of PG for violence, some peril, thematic elements and brief rude humor. Its runtime is 1 hr. 49 min. |
