A modern movie musical with a bold take on the classic fairy tale. Our ambitious heroine has big dreams and with the help of her fab Godmother, she perseveres to make them come true.
Since the original Disney animated film, we have gotten many Cinderella movies throughout the years. I myself am a fan of “Ella Enchanted” and “A Cinderella Story” and while the latest version, starring pop singer Camila Cabello, does modernize the story, it still manages to fall flat.
Though I am a fan of musicals, I am not really a fan of Camila Cabello. This is her acting debut, and while she certainly didn’t turn in a bad performance, she failed to stand out with her acting. Her singing is strong, but it’s obvious that she is lip-synching throughout various songs. The chemistry was also lacking between her and Nicholas Galitzine, who plays Prince Robert.
There are plenty of recognizable songs throughout the film, which is where I draw the connection to Baz Luhrmann films, particularly, “Moulin Rouge!” but some of the songs, such as “The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army,” feels out of place and goes on for way too long.
The wicked stepmother, Vivian, played by Idina Menzel, is really not very wicked at all. She even makes her other daughters help out and do laundry. In this film, she is appalled by Cinderella’s unladylike behavior and has a more traditional view of a woman’s role. But she still stands out with her incredible voice and it is always a highlight listening to her sing.
Pierce Brosnan and Billy Porter both have small roles as King Rowan and Fab G (an updated Fairy Godmother) but were both fun to watch. King Rowan butts heads with his children a lot, as his daughter wants to be included and his son does not follow his advice. While Fab G’s appearance is incredibly short, his outfit was fabulous.
If there is one thing I will give kudos to is that “Cinderella” would rather be a fashion designer than a future queen, and she leans more towards giving up her relationship with the prince in order to chase after her dream job. The prince also has a little sister, Gwen (Tallulah Grieve), who is far more suited to take over the kingdom than he is. She’s just not given the same consideration since she is a woman.
Overall, Camila Cabello’s “Cinderella” was just not for me but fans of hers could find some enjoyment from the film as her voice is prominent and the story has more of a modern spin to it. Despite its more modern feminist message and bright musical sequences, the film just feels incredibly shallow.
Available on Amazon Prime Video Friday, September 3rd
