Kim's Movie Korner

Movie Review: Aladdin (2019)

To say I’ve been feeling iffy and nervous about this live-action version of Aladdin doesn’t begin to express my anxiety over seeing this film.  Like most, it goes without saying I LOVE the now classic animated version of the film featuring the late Robin Williams in the roll of Genie.  It also goes without saying that the comparisons to the original, in particular to Williams, are inevitable.  As such, my initial knee jerk response was “Why mess with perfection?”! No sooner had I decided to opt out on this one than I began thinking of the live versions of The Jungle Book, Maleficent, and Beauty and the Beast which I love. Hmmm, I see the great possibilities…  However, the possibility of yet another live-action turd like Cinderella, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, and Dumbo, combined with the trailers, brought me back to a resounding no. I’ve been going back and forth like that for months now.  Yes or no?   The hope of Aladdin falling into the first category of great live-action film versions and/or possibly being a glutton for punishment has me rolling the dice, saying yes, and hitting the theater.

DISCLAMIER:  I am a Disney stockholder.  The following review is based solely on the merits/faults of the current film without regard to the 1992 animated film.

Let’s do this!

WHEW.  It’s with an enormous sigh of relief I can safely proclaim, YES!  Disney got this one right!  Hallelujah!

In addition to a solidly written screenplay, Guy Ritchie’s direction captures the very essence of Agrabah and brings the story of Aladdin to life on the big screen.  The colors, textures, sets, costumes, and cinematography are simply perfection.  I was drawn into this world from the very beginning and swept up in the story to the very end.  There are scenes where you feel you’re a part of the story and can practically smell and feel the surrounds they’re so vivid. 

Alan Menken and Tim Rice return, capture, rework, and even elevate the musical score for today’s audience.  Pure delight.  Yes, I was the obnoxious woman singing under my breath and dancing in my seat the entire movie.  I couldn’t help myself.  The nostalgia is definitely there, but the small tweaks and the stunning choreography couldn’t be denied.  Crowd pleasing through and through.  So much so, yes, you’ll be singing all the way home and good luck getting the songs out of your head.  The added bonus of a new song Speechless is as beautiful as it is powerful.  Plays wonderfully to the movie as a whole and underscores the character of Jasmine to perfection. 

The musical numbers of Friend Like Me and Prince Ali are well worth the price of admission alone.  The former had kids singing and dancing all the way to the parking lot and the latter is such a jaw dropping spectacle to behold it’s breathtaking.  I hear tale they used over a thousand extras to capture the grandeur of Prince Ali’s grand arrival in Agrabah. 

The cast/acting.  With the exception of my man Alan Tudyk (Disney loves him!) and Will Smith, I’m largely unfamiliar with the cast. 

Mena Massoud (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan TV series) does an admirable job as Aladdin.  Completely bought into him as the character, was impressed by his physicality and dance moves (he claims he didn’t know how to dance before landing the part, making it all the more impressive).  I did find his singing voice a bit on the weak side here and there (again he never sang until training for the part), however, it wasn’t enough to detract too much from the film.

Naomi Scott’s (Power Rangers) rendition of Princess Jasmine is spot on.  She does a fine job of inhabiting the character and expanding on it.  Her singing voice is great, and I loved what she does with Speechless. Her being a professional singer as well as actor pays off in spades.  Marwan Kenzari has for me his strongest performance to date as Jafar (although they could’ve pushed the villainy aspect a bit more, but hey, it’s Disney).  Apparently, I’ve seen him before in Murder on the Orient Express and The Mummy (2017), neither film making a lasting impression upon me beyond disappointment and outright haterade respectively. 

Then there’s Will Smith.  The proverbial elephant in the room.  Obviously, his take on Genie was crucial in the make or break of the film.  This was the one I was sweating over.  Again, looking strictly at what I was seeing on the screen in this version of Aladdin, Smith nails it.  I had no problems, kicking back in my lounger and going for the incredible ride Smith/Genie takes us on.  Knowing he had big pointy shoes to fill, Smith did an exceptional job paying homage to his predecessor yet making the character his own.  Smart move and it pays dividends. His performance is funny, manic (but not too over the top), sweet, emotional, and just a joy to watch.  I even didn’t mind him being blue half the time.

The trailers for Aladdin really do this film an injustice.  Guy Ritchie and company have made a smart retelling of a beloved classic.  They’ve smartly avoided the exact replication of the original, have kept many original elements and mixed in some new for a perfect blend of nostalgia and freshness.  

Aladdin is filled with energy, fun, heart, and humor.  The Disney magic is back!  It’s a whole new world.  One that needs to be seen on the big screen and brought home to add to your movie collection.  Far from a diamond in the rough, Aladdin is a 10.