REVIEW: CRUELLA

 

3.5/5

Cruella Intentions.

134 Mins. Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste & Mark Strong. Director: Craig Gillespie. 

1970's London calling. Punk rock revolution rolling like a stone Jagger with edge. This is "the future". Where her dogs at? Off the leash like the late, great DMX before his 'Exodus', posthumous final album this week. 'Maleficent' meets Meryl in Disney's latest live action adaptation for their palace that shines like a glass slipper finding the other foot. 'Cinderella', Emma Watson in 'Beauty and the Beast' (whose scheduling conflict actually led to Best Actress Oscar winner Emma Stone being in 'La La Land') with a 'Legion' of Dan Stevens. 'Mary Poppins Returns' (which actually no shame had me crying tears of joy) starring a perfect cast Emily Blunt (whose 'Jungle Cruise' with The Rock based on a Disney World ride like the 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' will join her horror matrimony with husband John Krasinski in cinemas this Summer). The big-three of 'The Jungle Book', 'Aladdin' and 'The Lion King'. All to see that bear and snake, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson 'Lost In Translation' reunion, Will Smith's Genie and Childish Gambino as Simba, growlin' and crushin' on Beyonce ("HOVA!"), not to mention being told by Seth Rogen and Billy on the safari Eichner 'Hakuna Matata'. And let's not forget the sensational scale of the 'Mulan' remake hit by COVID and controversy and reduced to a Disney + to play the background like 'Dumbo' under a big-top, or 'The Lady and the Tramp' sharing spaghetti down the back alley of a restaurant. Mickey Mouse is 'Fantasia' remixing everything live from Winnie the Pooh (the beautiful and brooding, haunted 'Dear Christopher Robin' with a hallmark, 'Halston' star Ewan McGregor), to what we can only hope is art imitating Saturday Night Live skit reality in The Rock's fast and furious live action Bambi remake, that would be a sure thing like Hobbs and Statham. Disney even remade the NBA last year in a quarantined Florida Bubble all so a Warner Bros King could be the star of the show (Bugs Bunny's new bestie in 'Space Jam-A New Legacy' star LeBron James who "what's up Doc" said "that's all folks" to the rest of the league). But when it comes to 'Cruella' and its new perfect cast this has done its flashbulb turn on the catwalk before. After the 1961 timeless animation based on Dodie Smith's book 'The Hundred and One Dalmations' was starlight barking remade so well by Glenn Close's devil (think as born to play as Hugh Jackman's Wolverine. Claws out no one's coming close) they even added another for '102'. But remake 101 this is the Estella prequel that really delves deep into origin story, source material. It's this new, redefining dalmatian that shows this dog in fur can change its spots. 

Cruella explains it all in nuanced narration about how her darling mothers bone was taken by snarling, spotty, dalmatian dogs. It's enough to send anyone over the ledge in brutal backstory. Hear this woman ROAR back in theatres like 'A Quiet Place II'. Masked up, but no masquerade. Catching fire like a 'Hunger Games' dress, reducing everyone else in the room to embers. This girl is on fire. 'The Favourite' and 'Battle Of The Sexes' star Emma Stone SHALL go to the ball. Check the envelope to see whose won, Stone isn't in 'La La Land' anymore. This city of stars is London baby like Joey wearing all the clothes at the 'Friends Reunion'. God save the queen. This majesty has the crown now. Her royal highness the fashionista throne. She is woman. Now hear her iconic laugh like a Joker, with no need for a king of hearts in this pack were she is the gambit in an 'Oceans 8' like Vegas heist with a Hathaway transformation for the jewels in foggy London town that places two hands under her chin with the conviction of a chess move that could topple any castle. Union Jack move, West End provocateur on a Bansky level of art-ism versus vandalism guerilla tactics, with more stardust outfits than Bowie's Ziggy as she changes clothes. Taking the bobbies for a ride down the cobbled side streets with a moustache and beret French connection, all by design as she leaves them for Big Smoke dust. Black and white with Ruby red lips that could have inspired a 'Sin City' cinematography, this dog is having its day. Brilliant, bad and more than a little bit mad. 

London's Liberty, like the black and white Victorian shop rooftop housing. The devil (pronounce her name right) wears more than Prada in this grand design from Disney. 'Five To One' making a grand entrance through The Doors, this is the takeover. More than a Streep streak, the Oscar, BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe acclaimed national treasure and woman of my dreams, who wold never have to suffer me getting an office tart a necklace for Christmas (that's real love...actually), Emma Thompson is her own woman like Glenn Close by far (the Oscar darling serving as an executive producer like the new Cruella). The 'Remains Of The Day' and Disney double 'Saving Mr. Banks' and 'Beauty and The Beast' (and you thought most Marvel heroes crossed over) stars haute couture Baroness a gala fitting to delightful and playful villainy. Emma vs Emma. Like a Gwyneth Paltrow or Anya Taylor-Joy Jane Austen adaptation. Thompson and Stone (alresdy interested in seconds like a sequel/prequel, 'Godfather Part II' style...now how does that sound?). This sounds as thrilling as the music to my ears jukebox of countless, compelling Great British hits a character in themselves that were more than top of the pops from then until now. They were also cultural icons like the Florence Welch and the Machine reworked Cruella de Vil theme that rides out in a drop-top Deville. As atmospheric and awe-inspiring as the dark designs of Lana Del Rey's 'Once Upon A Dream'. London has never looked or sounded so good back on the big screen guv'. Revenge has never been in such fashion either as 'I, Tonya' director Craig Gillespie knows how to put the hammer down with these harlequins. Even reuniting with one of his Tonya Harding crooks for a pair of sidekicks that are as thick as thieves loyal. A cockney accented like rhyming slang American in Paul Walter Hauser will have you and your China plate believing he's British when his standout turn in last years 1996 Olympic, Atlanta bombing controversy 'Richard Jewell' had you not knowing what to believe, except the conviction of his performance. This scene steal alongside an always reliable "Game of Thrones' 'Pleb' in Joel Fry of Beatles 'Yesterday' fame (the pure heart and conflicted conscience of this movie) gives us another career turn as the 'BlackKklansman' and 'Da 5 Bloods' star can add Disney to his resume, alongside character references from Clint Eastwood, Quentin Tarantino and Spike Lee. Add 'Hail Caesar!' and 'Daphne' herself Emily Beecham's moving mothering as the crux catalyst, the 'Tattletale' gossip columnist of 'Killing Eve' and 'Barry' star Kirby Howell-Baptiste spinning more than yarn and the always dependable Mark Strong strengthening the treasure of his own Great British filmography war chest (albeit a tad underused here, he always knows how to play the background beautifully like the 'Kingsman' gentleman that manners make that he is) and we really have the stitching to this weaved tapestry of a story. And let's not forget our four legged friends for this bow wow bark that has bite. Throw more than a bone. This one's the dogs bollocks. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'One Hundred and One Dalmatians', '101 Dalmations', 'The Devil Wears Prada'.