Aladdin

So the family ventured forth from the Fortress of Ineptitude to see Aladdin this past weekend.

There was some trepidation going into this excursion. The 1992 animated film is a beloved classic in our home.

The question that comes to mind whenever Disney decides to go to their animated well for a new live action movie is… why?

Besides money that is?

Well, the money is hard to argue with. Name and brand recognition goes a long way in driving box office success.  If you can sell as movie as “the same but different”, you’re in a fairly confident strike zone to score big ticket sales.

It’s the ultimate in movie comfort food. A film that is different enough to justify the effort and the ticket price to get out of the house but similar enough to the original to appeal to nostalgia.

Still, is there any artistic merit to these live action remakes? Is there a sufficient difference in the telling of the story between animation and live action?

“The Jungle Book” hewed to the basic storyline of the cartoon original but live action did allow for a greater expression of danger and risk for little Mowgli and the changed up ending where Mowgli stays in the jungle with his animal brethren gave us something different and some ways better. The biggest misstep was trying to replicate the manic energy the King Louie musical number. It worked in animation; it felt tonally out of place in the live action version.

“Beauty and the Beast” benefited from sumptuous visuals and the near perfect casting of Emma Watson as Belle. Despite some efforts to expand on the original story, the live action version seems to dedicated to replicating the iconic imagery of the animated film.

The original “Dumbo” cartoon was such a slim work, expanding the film to a live action feature would require adding a great deal of story that was never there before. The upshot is that Tim Burton’s “Dumbo” relegates the material from the original animated movie to a supporting role. The live action “Dumbo” is not inherently a bad movie and it is more or less well told but it does not thread “the same but different” needle, balancing the new with the nostalgic. 

So where does Aladdin land? 

The new live action film from director Guy Ritchie follows the story beats of the original animated film but there are differences. The film ends where you expect it to end but with the characters in slightly altered places.

In 1992, Jasmine is portrayed as strong and independent. “I am not a prize to be won!” she emphatically declared. Nonetheless, her problems are still those of every Disney princess before her. Being pressured to marry a prince, really, any politically expedient prince will do, Jasmine.  When she marries, she wants it to be for love, she opines to her reflection in a pool.

In 2019, Jasmine’s ambitions are less romantic and more political. Why does she need to marry some dude to take over one day as Sultan from her father when she herself could and should be the next Sultan? Sh’s studied and trained. She knows more about Agrabar than any of the punk ass princes parading into town to seek her hand in marriage. At least this time she has another woman to talk to which is a step up from talking to her reflection. 

In 1992, Jasmine’s father realizes that as Sultan, he can change the law and directs that the princess can marry whoever the hell she wants. Jasmine breathlessly exclaims, “I choose Aladdin”. Which is all well and good. Aladdin is all in all a nice guy but lacking a formal education, there is a good chance he’s illiterate. He gets to be the next Sultan because Jasmine chooses him as her husband?

In 2019, Jasmine’s father realizes that as Sultan, he can change the law and directs that the next Sultan can be the princess.  And as a side bonus, as Sultan, she can marry whoever the hell she wants. Long story made short (oh yeah, spoilers!), Jasmine and Aladdin get the same happy ending in 2019 as their 1992 animated counterparts got. But this time, the victory seems like its earned. 

There is a new song in the movie called “Speechless” which is Jasmine’s anthem against being silenced. It’s a powerful song but tonally, it seems out of place with the classic tunes of the Aladdin soundtrack.  

I suppose I should address the big blue elephant in the room, the Genie.

I’m gonna say it: Will Smith owns the role as the Genie.

No, he does not and quite frankly cannot compete with Robin Williams.  But it is important to remember that Robin’s Genie was literally a cartoon, drawings brought to life frantically trying to keep pace with Robin William’s rapid fire stream of consciousness riffs. In a live action movie, Will Smith has to be physically be there and this means he grounds his portrayal in a different reality. 

Yes, there are some bits where Smith’s Genie is wacky. The bit where Aladdin ticks Genie into freeing them from the Cave of Wonders without actually using a wish, Genie rewinds the movie and plops himself in the audience to watch the scene. It’s a wonderful homage to the wild spirit of Robin Williams. But for the most part, Will Smith portrays Genie like Will Smith. Think Agent J from Men In Black.  And I think it works.

So maybe the live action Aladdin is just a blatant cash grab by Disney. But ultimately, I think it was well done for it was and I found the experience enjoyable.