Magic lamp rerun

Aladdin

Starring: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott

Director: Guy Ritchie

Genre: Musical fantasy

Rating: PG

RUNTIME: 128 Mins

At this point, we’ve seen enough live-action re-imaginings of Disney’s animated canon to know they don’t always concern themselves with breaking the mould. Their classics are classics for a reason – so if it ain’t broke, right?

It should come as no surprise then that their adaptation of 1992’s Aladdin, for the most part, is very content to colour inside the lines.

Most of the proceedings will feel very familiar to fans of the original, so if you’re looking for a totally different take on it, you’re going to have to temper expectations.

What we do get is a visually impressive, energetic adventure that could have spent a little more time on what new it does bring to the table.

Disney had a huge challenge out of the gate in conceiving this movie – how the heck do you recast the Genie, a role so iconically played by the late Robin Williams? Will Smith’s turn as the Genie, for all of its blue-tinged pre-release controversy, is largely a success. Crucially, Smith avoids the one thing that would have derailed the performance: trying to recreate the inimitable Robin Williams’ iteration of the character.

Williams’ Genie was an amplification of the actor’s signature chaotic personality and Will Smith wisely steers far clear of trying to match that.

This Genie relies on Smith’s charm, bravado and the clear amount of fun he’s having playing the role. The story does give Smith’s Genie a little more depth than just being blue and hilarious, affording him a surprisingly fun and grounded subplot.

Perhaps inevitably, Smith’s charisma does end up overshadowing newcomer Mena Massoud as the title character. This isn’t helped by a script that always seems to be more interested in the characters surrounding Aladdin rather than Aladdin himself.

Massoud’s Aladdin is rather sheepish and when you’re up against Blue Fresh Prince, you need to bring a little more to the table to stand out.

Massoud is definitely strongest in his comedic scenes as Prince Ali, stumbling his way through trying to woo Princess Jasmine and finding new and painfully awkward ways of messing it up.

The one area that does feel like a clear improvement over the 1992 version is the characterisation of Naomi Scott’s Jasmine, to the point where at times the movie feels like it’s more invested in her story than Aladdin’s.

The princess feels more three-dimensional (literally) and she is given far more interesting ambitions this time around.

Scott gives the character a dignity and drive that makes it easier to root for her than poor old Al. Both Jasmine and Genie’s newly-fleshed-out arcs are welcome additions, but they do draw attention to how predictable and dated Aladdin’s story feels by comparison.

The supporting cast is hit-or-miss. While Nasim Pedrad and Billy Magnusson’s new characters end up being reliable for laughs, Marwan Kenzari’s take on Jafar is a let-down. Aside from a quick exchange about hating second place, it’s never very clear why Jafar is scheming for the Sultan’s throne, other than the fact that he’s just generally evil.

The animated Jafar had real wickedness and darkness to him, but Kenzari trades that in for a creepy, ill-defined lust for power that never really excites.

Fans will be glad to know that Aladdin’s catalogue of great songs are well represented here.

Though One Jump Ahead proves to be a bit of a misfire early on, featuring a heavy emphasis on chase and action that doesn’t quite work, the rest of the numbers are a good time. Friend Like Me is the movie at its visual peak, and probably the closest the movie gets to recreating the magic of the animated film.

On the visual front, Aladdin rarely disappoints. Agrabah feels vibrant and alive, most of all during Prince Ali’s grand entrance, and the surrounding desert is beautifully shot.

The Cave of Wonders sequence in particular shows off Guy Richie’s skill at crafting an action set-piece, and everything from the mystical danger of that scene down to Aladdin’s parkour all over Agrabah really moves with great pace under his eye.

Aladdin is about as safe an adaptation as we’ve seen Disney put out, which is a bit disappointing considering that most of what it adds to the story works pretty well. More interesting, arcs for Jasmine and the Genie are welcome, but more often than not, Aladdin just wants to play the hits.

The familiar story beats feel undercooked in live-action, something not helped by actors in the lead hero and villain roles that tend to get outshined by their peers.

While 2019’s Aladdin may not be a whole new world, thanks to some great supporting performances and a dazzling Agrabah, it is one worth revisiting.

Now showing in all Bahrain’s cinemas.

Kristian’s verdict: 3/5