Rachel Zegler Shines in a Whimsical and Romantic Snow White Remake!

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Snow White (2025)

Launch Date: The 21st of March, 2025

Behind the Scenes: Marc Webb

Scriptwriter: Erin Cressida Wilson

Main Cast: Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, Andrew Burnap, Ansu Kabia, Patrick Page, Andrew Barth Feldman, Tituss Burgess, Martin Klebba, Jason Kravits, George Salazar, Jeremy Swift

Qualifying Age: Suitable for all ages (PG). Contains violence, potential danger, mature themes, and a touch of inappropriate humor.

Running Time: The film will run for 109 thrilling minutes.

It’s fair to conclude that the 1937 film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” marked the beginning for Disney. This was their first full-length feature, setting off an era that Disney continues to dominate after 88 years – not just in its animated films but also with six actresses playing Disney Princess roles in live-action adaptations over the past decade. Now that Rachel Zegler’s “Snow White” has been released, you might wonder how it compares to the rest of the most beautiful portrayals.

Growing up, I was quite enamored with Disney Princess films, but unlike other titles, “Snow White” wasn’t a favorite I repeatedly watched on VHS. It comes as a shock to admit it, but the remake captivated me in a way that brought back memories of the heartwarming escape these stories offer. This particular fairytale stands out for me because of its successful reimagining, particularly due to Rachel Zegler’s exceptional casting.

The movie, directed by Marc Webb who has previously worked on films like “(500) Days Of Summer” and “The Amazing Spider-Man,” and written by Erin Cressida Wilson of “The Girl On The Train,” is indeed another successful live-action blockbuster from Disney, based on their animated treasures. However, it seems that this time around, the filmmakers have listened to fans’ feedback about previous remakes, opting not to be too rigid with the source material. Instead, they’ve crafted an enjoyable blend of homage and a fresh, mostly satisfying musical production that enhances Snow White’s Disney heritage.

There’s been a lot of nearly carbon-copy Disney remakes, but Snow White finds a solid reason to revisit the studio’s first feature-length classic.

In my perspective, I’d say: “I find myself captivated at the beginning of this Disney film by a charming CGI hedgehog snuggled on a storybook, prompting sweet ‘awws.’ Before the book unfurls, we’re introduced to Snow White’s background, where her name originates. Growing up, she enjoyed a blissful life under the nurturing care of both her parents, who provided her with an uplifting and joyous upbringing. The opening melody, a heartwarming tune from ‘Good Things Grow,’ composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the brilliant minds behind ‘La La Land’ and ‘The Greatest Showman,’ sets this idyllic scene. However, as is often the case in fairy tales, Snow White eventually comes under the watch of her wicked stepmother, portrayed by Gal Gadot.

In the progression of the movie, Rachel Zegler’s portrayal of Snow deviates from the traditional rendition where she sings “I’m wishing for the one I love to find me.” Instead, she emotionally expresses a different ballad titled “I’m Waiting On A Wish,” which conveys her aspirations to be like her father. This updated interpretation gives depth to Snow’s character, portraying how a young woman might privately grapple with feelings of loneliness, abandonment, and powerlessness in challenging circumstances. The princess remains graceful and delicate, yet her character resonates more authentically with the struggles that a young woman might experience in such situations.

In contrast to contemporary adaptations of tales like “Snow White,” which often portray their heroines as action-oriented or independent women who shun men, the latest version manages to modernize Snow White while preserving her authentic character traits. From her initial panic in the dark forest to the fabled kiss from true love, it stays faithful to the original story. What sets Snow White apart is her purity and kindness, which she extends to everyone she encounters. Although “nice” might seem insincere, Zegler imbues Snow White with a modest and tender demeanor that effectively conveys a timeless “good triumphs over evil” message in a heartwarming manner.

In this modern retelling, Snow White doesn’t sit around waiting for a prince to rescue her since she doesn’t have one. Instead, early in the story, she encounters a thief named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who bears a striking resemblance to Snow White’s romantic interest from the original tale. He assumes roles reminiscent of both Robin Hood and Flynn Rider from “Tangled,” standing in for the traditional prince. Their interactions are filled with playful chemistry, and they remain the central element throughout the movie. This unexpected dynamic is one of the most captivating aspects of the film.

Instead of focusing on the seven dwarves as primary characters, the story instead uses them to enhance Snow White’s relationships with Jonathan and the Evil Queen. Among the dwarves, special emphasis is placed on Dopey, whose character development is particularly heartwarming and endearing. The design of the dwarves, though somewhat reminiscent of the original animation, leans more towards cuteness with a touch of eeriness.

The music in Snow White is mostly a winner, thanks to Rachel Zegler’s infectious charm.

Instead of attempting to be multi-faceted like more modern princess movies such as Frozen 2, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Moana 2 may have done, Snow White is primarily a fairy tale and a musical. Unlike earlier versions, you won’t hear many songs from the original soundtrack, such as “With A Smile And A Song” or “Someday My Prince Will Come.” The production retains only two classic tunes – “Whistle While You Work” and “Heigh-Ho” – while adding five new songs (along with numerous reprises) to create a distinct experience from the original.

Following the movie, Snow White’s latest “I want” song “Waiting On A Wish,” along with some old favorites, were stuck in my head. I even found a couple of new ones that I looked forward to revisiting at home. Both of these new tunes revolve around Snow White’s romantic storyline between Zegler’s Snow and Andrew Burnap’s Jonathan. In a humorous tune titled “Princess Problems,” Jonathan playfully teases Snow for her innocence, while the beautiful “A Hand Meets A Hand,” co-written by Lizzy McAlpine, deepens their relationship through a love song that shares similarities with “I See The Light” from Tangled.

In some instances, Gal Gadot excels as the Wicked Queen, yet her overall portrayal is somewhat inconsistent, and her song “All Is Fair” stands out as the most effortlessly skippable and discordant scene in the entire film. Gadot walks a fine line between embodying one of Disney’s most fearsome villains and providing a lighter, more kid-friendly evil portrayal. The captivating costuming by Sandy Powell (responsible for 2015’s Cinderella) ensures that Gadot’s malevolent Queen is impossible to look away from. However, I ponder if the performance would have had a greater impact if Gadot were a trained singer to match Halle Bailey’s sweet and Broadway-worthy voice.

Marc Webb directs a sunny live-action remake that works as a tribute, but it also has a stiffness to it.

Disney remakes have faced criticism for their dark, brooding style compared to originals in the past, but Marc Webb’s Snow White features a bright and airy visual design that is refreshing. The film leans heavily on computer graphics, particularly when it comes to characters like the dwarves and woodland animals with whom Snow interacts. While the dwarf design may be challenging to accept initially, the CGI animals are beautifully crafted by the production’s visual effects teams, making for a delightful viewing experience.

In their rendition, Marc Webb and his team effectively pay homage to several memorable scenes from the classic version, like Snow White’s fall after the apple bite. However, when it comes to the live-action musical segments, there are inconsistencies in tone that make them seem formulaic. For instance, certain music sequences come off as overtly staged and reminiscent of Broadway productions, while the rest of the film lacks this same style. Consequently, the movie can sometimes feel more like it’s mechanically transitioning from scene to song rather than seamlessly progressing through its storyline.

In the recent adaptation of “Snow White,” Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen expresses surprise at Snow White’s assertiveness, which is reflective of the updated approach in this version compared to the original Disney tale. For purists, fear not, as all key elements from the classic story are preserved; however, Snow White now has a larger role and more autonomy to develop her character. I share the common sentiment of disappointment with studios rehashing old stories, but “Snow White” turned out to be the remake I didn’t realize I was hoping for. Although it isn’t perfect, this update is a refreshing modernization for the enjoyment of a new wave of Disney enthusiasts.

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2025-03-19 22:38