REVIEW: SNOW WHITE

3/5

The Big Apple

109 Mins. Starring: Rachel Zegler, Andrew Burnap & Gal Gadot. Screenplay: Erin Cressida Wilson. Director: Marc Webb. On: Disney +.

Bad apples appear to have poisoned the well, as Disney keeps churning out live-action versions of their animated classics like buttermilk. From the original 'Cinderella' (2015), to this month's 'Lilo & Stitch'. This rush of blood to the head is enough to make even Mickey Mouse faint with exhaustion from box-office blunder busts, to Marvel malaise and even some problems in a galaxy far, far away. Now, where's Minnie for true love's kiss? When Golden Globe winning 'West Side Story' star Rachel Zegler ('The Hunger Games: Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes') was cast as 'Snow White', all those 'Little Mermaid' haters were up in fins. Then the rising star drew even more ire when she criticized the 1937 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' animated original, and then Trump and his supporters. Firing back at all the hate she'd received online. There were even rumours of a real on-set beef with the Evil Queen, played by 'Wonder Woman' and 'Fast & Furious' star Gal Gadot, herself courting even more controversy for her opposing views on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Boycotts began and ran rampant.

Hate has no place here. Clouded in controversy, to make matters even worse, 'Game Of Thrones' megastar Peter Dinklage also criticized the film and its treatment of people with dwarfism. Resulting in not only a change of direction, but the best joke from Ricky Gervais ("he wasn't happy"). What we are now left with is now CGI creations, straight from the ChatGPT A.I. generator, that could give children nightmares, and seven members of the dwarfism community without a job. Even though, the likes of 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' favourite Martin Klebba still star. You'll like him when he's Grumpy. Now, some fans are left singing, "ho-hum, it's off to woke we go", as Jason "Wee Man" Acuña of 'Jackass' fame said it best, "why are you hiring 'Snow White and the seven average people'?" All this aside (I know, we're exhausted too), 'Snow White' still makes strides. Sharing the chores with the dwarfs and even meeting the bandit of Andrew Burnap (Public Theatre's 'King Lear' and Broadway's King Arthur in a revival of 'Camelot'). He's no Prince Charming, but he'll earn your hearts.

Despite what may be thought about the two leads, they shine in their starring roles, iconic costumes and a perfect peddler woman transformation. But it is clear to see this is an unfortunate flop that subscribers should have waited to stream now it's available on Disney Plus. Directed by 'Gifted', '(500) Days Of Summer' and 'The Amazing Spider-Man' filmmaker Marc Webb, the Brothers Grimm German fairy tale is adapted into a script by playwright and professor Erin Cressida Wilson (the movie version of Paula Hawkins' 'The Girl On The Train', starring Emily Blunt). Whistling why you work, there's still a great song and dance in here, and all the cute creature comforts (that hedgehog) of Bambi and her friends to bring back all that Disney magic. But, mirror, mirror, on the wall, what of all the toil and trouble? You may be better off watching 'Snow White And The Huntsmen', instead of this 'Beauty and the Beast' like wilting rose. A movie whose own star herself, 'Twilight's' Kristen Stewart, was shrouded in so much controversy, she wasn't even in the second, Chris Hemsworth solo movie. It seems, in this day and age, the hate left in its wake and the world is something we all have to bite into. A shame for a children's story. In the bitter end, nothing really seems fair here. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)', 'Snow White And The Huntsman', 'West Side Story (2021)'.