I don't think I need to summarize the story of Cinderella. It's a traditional fairy tale in Western culture, not to mention that Disney had previously made an animated version that's widely regarded as a classic of the medium. This live-action adaptation of the story doesn't have any major deviations of note, though there are a fair number of nice touches that give it a little bit of its own identity. At the same time, however, this is a very safe adaptation, one that occasionally flirts with the idea of taking risks with the source material but ultimately just gives the story a nice dressing. Still, what a nice dressing it is. The lush set design shows an attention to detail that makes the fairy tale world feel alive, and though the CGI can look a bit odd sometimes, some of the bigger sequences are genuinely dazzling.
Some of the story's beats have fascinating ideas somewhere in there, and the script expands upon them just enough to make them additionally compelling on a surface level. I feel there's more to be done with Prince Charming, played by Richard Madden here, where we start by seeing him caught between his love for a commoner and his responsibility to his country, and later is in love with a girl he doesn't even know the name of. This goes away later in the story, though that can't really be helped. Similarly, Cate Blanchett is entertainingly over-the-top as Cinderella's stepmother, but lingering shots and one particular speech give the impression that there's something more to her that just isn't explored. On opposite end of things we have Cinderella played by Lily James, who a lot of focus is put on but who isn't really all that interesting on her own. If her baggage was explored further, she might have been interesting, but as is she comes across as boring next to others.
This is offset by the story's inherent charm, which this film taps into quite well. Some elements seem like they should have more to them, such as the CGI animals, but the magical elements of the story are intact and for the most part embraced fully. The animals don't talk, unlike in the animated version, but they do respond to Cinderella and generally act as talking mice would. The fairy godmother, played by Helena Bonham Carter, is a solid match for Carter's usual persona, allowing for a number of amusing quips, and her scene is probably the part of the film where its contemporary sensibilities best match with the tale's spirit. That's not to say that such isn't present throughout the rest of the film, however, as this is actually not that much of an update, with the most modern thing about it merely being its technology and filmmaking techniques. This Cinderella wouldn't feel out-of-place if it had come out 20 years earlier. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as it does stand out from the crowd because of that.
The film's biggest asset, however, is its sense of humour. Half the cast has a witty quip or two in them, and it's the biggest thing that helps Chris Weitz' script have its own identity. It's that wit that prevents Cinderella from feeling superfluous. This is a genuinely funny film, and that's not an insubstantial part of its entertainment value. In fact, it's kinda weird to see Cinderella's stepsisters having some reasonably clever lines due to the lack of cleverness inherent to those characters, but it does make them entertaining to watch.
Thematically, the film has the usual morals, having characters espouse the virtues of courage and kindness several times. That's reinforced as a sort of personal empowerment message by the presentation of events in the story, most notably the concept of loving someone for who they are that is key to Cinderella and Prince Charming's relationship. It's not really anything groundbreaking, though, and the placement of a Frozen short before that sorta hammers the mildness of the story's themes by comparison.
Speaking of which, Frozen Fever is the title of that short, and while it's never more than a victory lap for the film, it does contain some of the elements that made Frozen an instant classic. Seeing the characters again is a delight, and the animation is as on-point as ever. The song is a slight bit more awkward, but it's still a solid, catchy, enjoyable tune. The humour is mostly charming, but there's at least one groan-inducing reference. As a brief appetizer, it does its job.
To conclude, Cinderella is an adaptation that plays it safe, but possesses the right elements to be entertaining in its own right, even if something better could have been done with this story. I'd like to see Cinderella told from Prince Charming's point of view, or even from the stepmother's. All the same, though, it's a solid watch and ultimately does justify its own existence just enough to work.
7/10
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