ALADDIN – A Movie Review

Cast: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, David Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen Jordan A. Nash, Amir Boutrous

Creative Team: Songs by Alan Menken, Tim Rice, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul • Choreography by Leah Hill • Screenplay by John August & Guy Ritchie • Directed by Guy Ritchie / 2019

My Rate: 6 (from 1 to 10)

The Plot: Aladdin is a poor young guy who falls in love with a beautiful girl, without knowing that she’s a princess. But he is pure of heart and so is forced by the bad guy, Jafar, to enter the cave where a magic lamp waits to be collected. Inside the lamp there’s a genie and Aladdin’s life is going to change.

The Movie: The 1992 Disney animated movie is one of the best of its genre, with an unforgettable Robin Williams giving life to the fabulous genius. Years later, the movie was adapted to the Broadway stage as an entertaining colourful musical. Now, it’s back to the movie screen in a real-life (well, almost) new version of the original.

Did we need this new version? Maybe not, both the original and the stage musical are better, but when the movie is as amusing and enjoyable as this one is, why not? Okay, Will Smith isn’t Robin Williams, but his genie is funny and he has a good time doing it. At his side, Mena  Massoud is a kind of silly Aladdin, always with an idiotic smile on his face, but he is a nice boy. Better is the beautiful Naomi Scott as the princess, strong and independent, her character is the big change on the story; she’s no longer a princess in need of rescue. But for me the big surprise is Nasim Pedrad as the humorous princess’ maid.

As for the movie, it’s a highly colourful one, a little bit loud and with plenty of action and magic to keep us entertained. It’s also a musical and this time around the big number isn’t “A Friend Like Me”, but “Prince Ali”. Practically, all the songs written for the original are here, but none of the ones written for the Broadway musical. There’s a new song, “Speechless”, but it’s forgettable and not up to the other ones.

I believe that, like me, fans of the original will have a good time seeing it, but keep in mind this isn’t as good as the that one and how could it be? So, keep an open mind and enjoy the magic of it!