Snow White Movie Review: Does Rachel Zegler’s Performance Save This Predictable Remake?
Snow White, directed by Marc Webb, brings Disney’s 1937 animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to life with an ambitious live-action remake. Featuring Shazam! star Rachel Zegler as the titular Snow White and Wonder Woman’s Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the film dazzles visually but ultimately struggles to break free from the confines of its well-worn source material.
Plot Overview
The plot follows the traditional tale of Snow White, a beautiful young princess who is hated by her stepmother, the Evil Queen, played by Gadot. Consumed by jealousy over Snow White’s beauty, the Queen orders her execution. Snow White escapes into a mystical forest where she finds refuge with seven dwarfs. However, the Queen, using dark magic, disguises herself and tricks Snow White into eating a poisoned apple, causing her to fall into an eternal sleep. As the curse lingers, Snow White’s true love, a prince played by Andrew Burnap, joins forces with the dwarfs to confront the Queen and break the spell. The familiar story promises a classic fairy-tale adventure, but whether it lives up to expectations is another story.
What Works for Snow White
There’s no denying that Snow White is a visual masterpiece. The world in which the story takes place is meticulously crafted, with breathtaking landscapes and beautifully designed sets that make the fairy-tale world feel alive. The costumes, from Snow White’s simple yet elegant gown to the dark grandeur of the Evil Queen’s attire, are stunning and truly elevate the film’s aesthetic.
Rachel Zegler’s performance is the best part of the film. She brings a fresh and grounded take on Snow White, making the character feel real and relatable. Her presence on screen shines in every moment, and her chemistry with the dwarfs is enjoyable to watch.
The music is another great part of the movie. The soundtrack, while not as iconic as the original, is a major highlight. The songs fit well within the film’s fairy-tale atmosphere, and they showcase Zegler’s vocal talents in a way that adds to the magic of the world. The music gives the film a touch of the old Disney magic, something that will certainly resonate with fans of the original. The dwarfs also bring a lot of charm to the film.
What Doesn’t Work for Snow White
Despite its visual splendor and strong performances, Snow White suffers from a lack of originality. The film follows a tried-and-true formula, sticking closely to the plot of the 1937 classic without adding much new or unexpected. The result is a movie that feels overly familiar and, at times, predictable. For a film that is just under 100 minutes long, the pacing drags in several spots, which is unfortunate given the relatively short runtime.
The biggest misstep in Snow White is the portrayal of the Evil Queen. Gadot’s performance is fine, but her character lacks the menace and complexity that could have made her a truly formidable antagonist. The Queen never feels like a real threat, which undermines the stakes of the story. While Gadot’s beauty and elegance suit the character, the lack of depth in her backstory and motivations makes it difficult to take her seriously as the central villain.
The film also suffers from a lack of surprises. Viewers familiar with the original animated film will find little to no new twists or changes to the story. The film sticks so closely to the source material that it fails to provide any fresh take on the classic narrative, leaving the audience with a sense of déjà vu rather than excitement.
Performances
Rachel Zegler is undoubtedly the heart of this remake, effortlessly bringing Snow White to life with her innocence, bravery, and warmth.
On the other side, Gal Gadot’s performance as the Evil Queen falls a bit flat. While she certainly looks the part, the character lacks the depth and menace that the role demands. The film doesn’t delve deeply into her backstory, which makes her feel more like a surface-level villain than a truly menacing force. Without that emotional weight, it’s tough to take her seriously as the film’s central antagonist.
As for Andrew Burnap’s Prince, he’s a bit of an afterthought. His character doesn’t get much development, leaving him to fulfill the traditional fairy-tale role without much complexity. While he’s not bad, he doesn’t add much to the narrative beyond what you’d expect from a prince in a classic story.