Review Summary: A bit of a mess (but a very enjoyable one).
2019 is turning out to be the year of the Disney remake. Dumbo took a couple of steps back, while The Lion King is receiving a lot of buzz for its release in two months. Beyond that, Aladdin gets the distinction of getting stuck in the middle. And the Mouse House has come under scrutiny for this particular revamp. From not being "inclusive" enough in its casting to the questionable decision of casting Will Smith as the genie, to other character decisions that weren't received well, people were dreading it. This extended to me to a smaller degree, as even though the 1992 original is one of their more human stories, it also includes a stunning amount of comic madness that I didn't think could be captured in a live-action movie.
The original Aladdin was not a VHS tape I watched over and over as a young tyke (like The Little Mermaid, Oliver and Company, The Aristocats and The Lion King), but it's a movie I appreciated more as an older kid and young adult. It's not quite an all-time favorite, but it's certainly one of the Mouse House's most memorable films. The terrific animation, the madcap sense of humor (mostly courtesy of Robin Williams' legendary performance as the genie), mostly terrific songs ("A Whole New World" is one of the best songs in the Disney catalog), and a plethora of great characters make it a classic.
Of course, if we were to expect this remake to reach the original, that would be unrealistic. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how faithful this remake was to its' predecessor. Director and co-screenwriter Guy Ritchie worked hard to remain true to the story as well as its' charming yet goofy persona. Does it miss Williams' comedic timing? Yes it does. But, there's still a lot of great jokes here that succeed on impact. Does it sometimes go in a slightly different direction? Yes it does. But, outside of Jasmine's stronger aspirations and a couple of additions to the cast, the characters (and motivations) and the story in general remain the same.
Some characters are given more to do here than in the original. Perhaps given the biggest upgrade is Jasmine. In the original, she seemed fairly limited despite her somewhat rebellious attitude. She also lacked a true "I Want" song like Ariel and Belle both had. But, this version of the character is given more needed depth. The genie is also given more of a story arc, with a stronger and more emotionally-driven reason for wanting to be free.
Smith was wise to not try to replicate Williams' performance. With the exception of a handful of lines transferred from the original script, he's given the freedom to give his own spin on the character. And he works, surprisingly well. Smith gives a different sense of humor that causes a lot of laughs (including some mockery of the original film's nonsensical ideas), and his smoother, more humbler version doesn't overshadow the character's heart either. Smith also does a pretty solid job with the musical numbers (particularly "Friend Like Me").
As for the rest of the cast, Naomi Scott (Power Rangers) proves a great choice for Jasmine. She shows the vulnerable and tough sides of the character, while also expanding on more of her desire to be a leader very believably. Unlike Emma Watson, Scott is a natural singer and is perhaps as impressive a vocalist as Lea Salonga was as the original Jasmine. As for Aladdin and Jafar, Mena Massoud and Marwan Kenzari both start off pretty wooden. However, as the film progresses, they both grow into their characters and end on a strong note. Nasim Pedrad is the best new character, playing Jasmine's handmaiden Dalia with a great smile and some solid jokes.
For the songs, I have to say, the musical team pretty much nailed it this time. The five classic songs from the original are nicely-revised and performed (with the exception of Jafar's "Prince Ali" reprise), and any signs of a modern sound are impressively restrained. I found myself smiling through just about every song. As I said before, Smith's version of "Friend Like Me" is a very pleasant surprise. "Prince Ali" was also surprisingly good (especially considering how low-energy the early clip released of it was), with a great ending. "A Whole New World" and "One Jump Ahead" are also nicely-done. "Arabian Nights" may not have had as much of an impact, as the lower pitch and tune doesn't quite reach the original's sweeping instrumental. A few lyrics are changed for that particular tune, but nothing drastic.
As for new songs, I was excited that Pasek and Paul (The Greatest Showman, La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen) were brought on board. They originally wrote three or four, but only one made the final cut, which is a little sad. Yet, that one song ("Speechless") turns out to be a showstopper, and could be an Oscar contender next year. The original Aladdin was missing a solo number for Jasmine (as well as a true original villain song for Jafar), and this problem is fixed big time with a two-part tune that Scott delivers. However, the second part of the song is out-of-place in the movie a little bit. The song is placed in between Jafar's first two wishes. I really believe it would have had even more impact if the song (as well as the attempt of Jasmine's arrest) had been after his second wish and Aladdin's banishment. However, placing it in between his wishes makes the song feel like an interruption to the scene and the film's pacing, which is a bit of a shame.
Meanwhile, the overall pacing for the film is kind-of scattershot. The first third breezes by at a quick pace, and key moments from the first half of the film are just given a quick glance (such as the first person who tries to enter the Cave of Wonders). Some moments are somewhat oddly combined together ("One Jump Ahead" happens at the same time Jasmine is in the square, for example), and other events are changed around in a slightly different order. None of this was really necessary and it got a tad annoying in a few places. The film thankfully does slow down once the Genie enters the picture.
The visual effects, costume design and production design are all spectacular. It evokes a vibe that is equal parts the original film and a realistic Mumbai/Indian/Bollywood-style country. The Cave of Wonders is revised very nicely (with the entrance very closely resembling the animated film). There's also a group dance sequence half-way through that is very fun, and might would have been a nice fit in the original. However, the ending action scene with a giant Iago doesn't work nearly as well as the original with Jafar turning into a snake. Thankfully it's very short. Speaking of the parrot, despite a more realistic depiction, Alan Tudyk is no Gilbert Gottfried. But while Iago doesn't quite work, the other peanut gallery characters do. Abu, Carpet, and Rajah the Tiger are all nicely realized here in live-action, and all three are given a handful of moments to shine.
Pedrad's character (Dalia) says at one point, "charming, but in a clumsy sort of way". That pretty much sums up this picture. However, I will say I was more surprised at how much this remake got right than what it didn't. It didn't add unnecessary complexity or force in dramatic changes to some of its characters like Beauty and the Beast did. And, it also had more depth and more of a lighthearted feel than earlier this year's Dumbo did.
And, while its' difficult to overlook its' clumsy and sometimes messy missteps (particularly in its first third), this Aladdin proves to otherwise still be a very entertaining and solid effort.
My Score: 7.6/10
Content Concerns for Family Viewing: Aladdin is rated PG for "some action/peril". There are a few action scenes that may prove frightening for younger tykes. One involves lava and earthquakes nearly taking out Aladdin and others in the Cave of Wonders (with a loud surprising voice). Another involves a giant parrot chasing Aladdin, Jasmine and Carpet through a town square and causing some destruction. Another scene shows (like the cartoon) of Jafar turning into a genie, and his appearance may be scary to some. Someone enters the Cave of Wonders and is immediately crushed by stones. Aladdin makes a few perilous jumps. Jafar nearly does away with several characters with his magic. Of course, Jafar uses dark sorcery to accomplish his deeds. The Genie whips up a martini a couple of times. Aladdin lies throughout the film, and even says (accidentally) that he's going to "buy" Jasmine (to a bunch of gasps in the crowd). Women wear some low-cut dresses, but the attire isn't nearly as sultry as what the females in the animated film wore. Altogether, I would say this is a solid choice for ages 6 or 7 on up.
