Genre: Adventure, family, fantasy
Disney’s live-action remakes are often hit or miss, and unfortunately, their latest offering, Snow White, is a definite miss. With two big-name stars in the lead roles, a large Disney budget, and the nostalgic power of the original film, expectations were high.
Sadly, the end result leaves much to be desired.
The remake introduces several major changes that drastically alter the tone and feel of the story. Rather than a whimsical fairytale about a kind-hearted princess and her seven dwarf companions, this version feels more like an action-driven tale about fighting oppressive systems, and in doing so, loses the magic.
Rachel Zegler stars in the role of Snow White but delivers an underwhelming performance. She lacks the warmth, innocence, and charm that defined the beloved Disney princess. Gal Gadot, as the Evil Queen, is even harder to watch, her performance lacks the theatrical flair and menace needed to make the villain compelling, coming off as flat and miscast.
Zegler undoubtedly has a strong singing voice, but in this film, her songs feel more like auditions than moments of narrative or emotional depth.
Gadot, meanwhile, struggles vocally. Her musical scenes are awkward and unconvincing, making it difficult to take her character seriously.
While updating the story with modern themes can be valuable, this adaptation strays so far from the original that it forgets what made Snow White an enduring classic.
One of the strangest choices is the decision to render the dwarves entirely in CGI. The animation quality is poor, and the interaction between the digital characters and the live-action cast feels disjointed and unnatural.
Snow White’s love interest is no longer a prince, but a Robin Hood-style character named Jonathan (played by Andrew Burnap). Unfortunately, there is no chemistry between Zegler and Burnap. Their connection feels forced, and the pivotal scene where “true love’s kiss” awakens Snow White is robbed of emotion, made worse by the absence of background music or any romantic tension.
Not even the star power of Zegler and Gadot, or the weight of Disney’s brand, can redeem this film. In fact, if you stripped away the title and the familiar colours, it would be nearly impossible to recognise this as a Snow White remake.
Snow White is now showing at Hemingways Movies.
