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...

Film Review - "Spider-Man: No Way Home"

Spider-Man: No Way Home
Directed by Jon Watts
Starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, etc.

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took off, I think most of us grew up following three major superheroes: Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man. For a long time, I think arguably they were the most popular superheroes in the media. However time has a way of changing things, and heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, Wonder Woman and others have taken a fair share of the spotlight.

Personally for me, Spider-Man: No Way Home made me remember how much I loved the webhead. I think it's one of the best Spider-Man films to date.

It's hard to talk about this one without dipping into some spoilers, so here's your warning. But I think at this point everyone knows what's going on here.

Picking up after the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home, No Way Home finds Peter Parker (Holland) dealing with the fallout of Mysterio (Taylor Swift Muse Jake Gyllenhaal) revealing his identity. Amidst legal troubles and public prosecution, Peter, his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) are struggling to find out what they're going to do after high school graduation. It turns out being Spider-Man or his accomplices doesn't look good on college applications.

Out of options, Peter asks Doctor Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) if he can cast a spell to make everyone forget he's Spider-Man. Unfortunately the spell backfires, cracking open the multiverse and bringing villains from other series-I mean, universes into their own. Villains that know "Peter Parker is Spider-Man" like Doctor Otto Octavius/Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), Max Dillion/Electro (Jamie Foxx), and Norman Osborn/Green Goblin (Willem DaFoe).

First of all, this film does have a lot of fan service, but it's not Spider-Man: No Substance At All. Quite the opposite. Everything done in this film is in service to Tom Holland's Peter Parker's character arc. I've enjoyed the first two MCU Spider-Man films but they've never been my favorites. I tend to agree with the notion that those films have felt less like Spider-Man films, and more like Avengers spinoffs. No Way Home squashes that notion in a grand coming-of-age story for Peter Parker. We can now see this trilogy has functioned on a whole as the origin for the MCU Spider-Man.

As one could expect from a Spider-Man origin story things can get a bit heavy. This is definitely the darkest film of the Home trilogy. There are some truly suspenseful sequences and plenty of emotional moments. You'll feel scared, and you'll cry. But it's not all gloom and doom. There is a lot here to enjoy as a Spider-Man fan and a Marvel fan. You'll cheer. You'll cry...This film's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster!

The action sequences are vibrant and a delight to watch. Each of them are distinct from one another and take full advantage of the film's colorful character roster. Of course everything is elevated by Michael Giacchino's epic score. Seriously when this dude composes he goes all out...also he's now written music for Doctor Strange, and another film co-starring Doctor Strange. That's a little fun fact for you.

I can't go through the whole cast but Tom Holland bring his A-Game to the film, embodying all the hope and the tragedy of Peter Parker. Peter is put through the ringer in No Way Home, and Holland handles it all so well, proving again and again that he is leading this film. Zendaya gives some of her best work as MJ, bringing plenty of heart and humor to the film. She's so much more than a comic relief this time, and her relationship with Peter comes to full fruition. That's probably no small part in due to the fact that Tom Holland and Zendaya are dating but hey, art imitates life. Benedict Cumberbatch continues to own the role of Doctor Strange. Marisa Tomei gives her best performance as Aunt May yet.

Willem DaFoe is an absolute terror and treat to watch once again as Norman Osborn. He actually may even be more terrifying than he was in the original Spider-Man. DaFoe's Green Goblin would make Josh Brolin's Thanos scared. Alfred Molina is a delight to see as Doc Ock again, pouring so much heart and charisma into what is probably his most iconic role. Jamie Foxx gets his second chance to play Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and he doesn't waste it. This time Foxx is played to his strengths, and it's much better the second time around.

...Maybe skip the next two paragraphs if you haven't been paying attention to the internet the past year.

Alright here we go. One of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood history...to see Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield return as their Peter Parker(s)/Spider-Men is nothing short of awesome. And they're not just cameos. They're full-on supporting players in this film and again, are there to help progress Tom Holland's Peter's narrative. I thought they both came back into their roles seamlessly. Tobey was never my favorite Spider-Man but when he worked, he worked. He plays this perfect older brother/mentor to the other Spider-Men, and has the same heart and charm he did in 2002. Andrew Garfield, I always thought he was a great Spider-Man. I liked The Amazing Spider-Man, and I know the second one isn't perfect, but he was consistently great throughout the duology. It's nice to finally see his Peter Parker getting the recognition he deserves from audiences (About damn time...) and he absolutely stole the show. Seeing Maguire and Garfield back, and together with Holland is such an exhilarating, emotional thing. Like literally watching cinematic history in the making.

Side-note, could you imagine if Tobey and Andrew's appearances didn't leak? Imagine if we all went into this film having absolutely no idea...the collective storm of minds being blown...oh well.

Not since 2011's The Muppets has my love for a property been so reinvigorated. Spider-Man: No Way Home is peak Spider-Man. It's fun, it's heartbreaking, and it's Avengers: Endgame level-epic. It's nearly twenty years of film history culminating in something that's never been done before, while also paving the way for a bold and intriguing future for MCU Spidey. I cannot wait to watch it again (safely because you know, Big Rona) and buy my copy of the Blu-Ray. It should go down as one of the best superhero films of all time (Have I said that about an MCU film before? I don't care).

...And let's give Andrew Garfield his The Amazing Spider-Man 3...just not exactly the one they were planning in 2014 because whoa boy...