About the film (courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures):
Set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, the story follows a young grifter named Estella (Emma Stone), a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman (two-time Oscar® winner Emma Thompson), a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.
Origin stories – been there and done that a thousand times. Most times, this a big reach, but every so often you find a gem amongst the junk. I strongly believe that Cruella may be one of the most unlikely to shine so brightly. Plucked from the 1956 children’s novel by Dodie Smith and subsequent Walt Disney animated feature length film, One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), the story of the villain known as Cruella de Vil’s rise to infamy is fleshed out before our very eyes more than a half century later. And dare I say, it was (well) worth the wait!
Starting with the story of Cruella, itself, audiences will be immediately drawn to this young outcast desperately seeking her place in a world of haves and have-nots. The creative ideas that are born from brilliant minds together in a room will never cease to amaze and the group responsible for this well-woven piece of art deserves a nod. Dana Fox, Tony McNamara, Aline Brosh McKenna, Kelly Marceland and Steve Zissis, take a bow. The continual maturation of Estella and her eventual disdain for the Baroness is laid out like perfectly placed puzzle pieces.
This brings us to the acting. Emma Thompson digs deep and gives her all to a character that is a slow-burn bitch that burrows into deepest nerves of those watching. Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser provide quality emotional depth sprinkled with some light-hearted laughs throughout. Kirby Howell-Baptiste, John McCrea and Mark Strong are a few others worth throwing some love to. But the focus really needs to be on Emma Stone because she is absolutely magnificent in all she does and her range in which she does it. From vulnerable to vicious, Estella/Cruella shows it all.
The praise train doesn’t stop there. It would only make sense, due to the fashion-focused nature of Cruella, that the costumes would be of a spectacle of superiority all on its own. And that it is. The costume and set designers had to be like kids in a candy store trying to outdo one another. This is one of the reasons that I would say that seeing on the big screen might be more advantageous. It’s bold, beautiful and in your face. The more you see, the more you marvel. And I’d be doing a disservice if I didn’t mentioned the soundtrack that is perfect for setting various tones for what’s going on, as well as its authenticity for the era and location in which this all unfolds.
If I was going to mark Cruella down for anything, and this is very minor, it would be in the confusion as to whom this should be marketed to. My feelings are that young children may not be as drawn to this one as the more mature ones. This is one of those Disney productions that adults, parents or not, will find more joy in. The runtime of 134 minutes may also be another deterrent for the little ones (unless you’re enjoying it at home thanks to Disney+ with Premier Access). Just don’t go into this blindly thinking this is a “kid’s movie”. It is rated PG-13 after all for some violence and thematic element.
I highly recommend seeing the latest surefire Disney hit sooner than later and you should enjoy it from start to finish. Director Craig Gillespie provides a super solid and hugely enjoyable event for all to enjoy. There are many delights to be experienced as the plot progresses and sinks its hooks in deeper and deeper. I’d be shocked if this one doesn’t garner a few year-end awards when all is said and done. It’ll definitely be on my “Best of 2021” list, and we’re just getting started! Cruella will release simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access for a onetime additional fee on Friday, May 28. You’ll want to check this one out.
