Film Review - "Cruella"

I bet you're expecting me to hate this film like I hated Maleficent. Well, guess what?!?

Cruella

Directed by Craig Gillespie

Starring Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, and Paul Walter Hauser

I mean I wasn't exactly excited to see this film, despite loving the lead actress and the director's last film (I, Tonya). The reviews ended up being overall pretty positive, but a lot of people liked Maleficent too...and gave it a sequel. Regardless, I had every intention of giving Cruella a chance, and I finally caught it on Disney Plus last week. You know what? I had a pretty good time with it.

The film opens on young Estella having a gift for fashion, and causing trouble. Her mother pulls her out of school and moves to London to keep her out of trouble, but tragedy strikes leaving Estella an orphan. She makes friends with two con-artists/street urchins Jasper and Horace. Ten years later, Estella (Stone), Jasper (Fry), and Horace (Hauser) spend their days pulling schemes throughout the streets of London. 

On her birthday, Jasper and Horace give Estella a job at a prestigious department store...as a janitor. One night Estella drunkenly redecorates a window display in the store, and attracts the attention of prolific designer Baroness von Hellman (Thompson). The Baroness recognizes Estella's talent and offers her a job at her studio. As she grows closer to The Baroness, Estella uncovers a startling connection between them. This revelation sets her down a dark and immoral path that will turn Estella into Cruella.

First off I appreciate them trying to give Cruella de Vil a fully-fledged backstory, and an original one at that. They're not doing some revisionist history of 101 Dalmatians here. There was one questionable story choice that didn't sit with me, but I was able to get past it. Cruella was actually surprising and I wasn't sure where it was going to go. You're rooting for Estella but also not, if that makes sense. She's a likable character and you almost don't want to see her become Cruella de Vil. She's very much an anti-hero, and I dig that.

The film rests on Emma Stone's shoulders, and she carries it with ease. You can tell she's having a ton of fun with this role, and she flips between the light and the dark (the white and the black. Dalmatians!) of Estella/Cruella. Emma Thompson goes toe-to-toe with her as The Baroness. Thompson does great playing a dry, malicious antagonist. She probably could play Cruella de Vil herself if she wanted to. Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser are a great pair as Jasper and Horace. Fry brings a lot of heart to the film, which is surprising considering what Jasper was in 101 Dalmatians, but that's fine Jasper is Cruella's moral compass now I guess. Paul Walter Hauser steals every scene he's in as Horace. One of the best castings in a Disney live-action remake??

I liked the look of the film, bringing retro London to life. It fits right in with the style of the original animated 101 Dalmatians. There was some shoddy CGI in some scenes but it was minimal. What I didn't like is the film's soundtrack. It's like someone was skipping through a CD of "Now That's What I Call 70's", playing the most popular songs from the era. Don't get me wrong I like all the songs they used, and some of them worked, but some of them are so overused in film/television, they take you out of the viewing experience. Whatever happened to using original music to set a scene? Not as bad as the soundtrack in the original Suicide Squad, but just as noticeable.

So, why do I like this film and not Maleficent? Well while Maleficent tried to "redeem" its titular character, and as a result tare down a Disney classic, Cruella actually respects the source material. I mean, it does make a popular Disney villain a bit more sympathetic but she's still not a good person. Again, anti-hero. Again, Cruella doesn't fold into a retelling 101 Dalmatians halfway through. It does something original. 

*Mild spoilers* It doesn't take us right to the point where Cruella decides to kill puppies for fur coats, but it puts her in the right (or wrong) direction. It treads that line and I respect that. "Shockingly", there will be a sequel, and we'll have to wait and see what story that film tells (I think the credits scene can give us some hints) but for now, I'll remain cautiously optimistic.

Cruella is not without its flaws but it's a pleasant surprise regardless. It's a fun film with a strong lead performance. I had a good time with it. But Disney you're 1-1 on villain origin films. Let's not push it by trying to dive into the untold stories of Jafar or Gaston-oh no wait they are doing that one just as a miniseries on Disney Plus...anyway...