'Aladdin' review roundup: What critics thought of Disney's live-action remake
It's a whole new world, one in which Will Smith is playing the Genie and Mena Massoud is perfectly cast as Agrabah's cutest thief in Disney's live-action Aladdin remake.
The long-awaited movie is out on May 24, but the reviews are finally in.
Mashable's Angie Han calls it less satisfying despite a longer runtime than the original. In her review, she states that director Guy Ritchie and his team seem to have no idea of how to stage and shoot a musical number; instead of establishing a rhythm and letting us focus on the spectacle, they crowd the screen with so much stuff that it all blurs together, and then speed up the dancing to a bizarre unnatural pace.
For more on what the critics thought of this extravagant remake, read on:
Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott are IRL royalty
William Bibbiani, The Wrap
Massoud is particularly dashing in the role, leaping from building to building and cavorting with his pet monkey Abu while flashing a million-dollar heartthrob smile. Give this man a franchise. Give him a franchise now. Scott has the necessary gravitas to play Jasmine, and her chemistry with Massoud is natural and romantic.
Shana O'Neil, Hypable
Mena Massoud is perfect as Aladdin. He is a mix of charm and vulnerability that makes him instantly likable and makes you root for him. Naomi Scott truly sparkles as Princess Jasmine, both literally and figuratively. Her costumes are works of art and Scott brings the air of a woman who’s been trained from infancy to be a princess.
Matt Singer, Screencrush
Naomi Scott is a standout and makes Jasmine the other highlight of the film, and she further makes a persuasive case that she’s better than the material she’s offered here.
Joseph Walsh, Time Out
Canadian-Egyptian actor Mena Massoud perfectly captures Aladdin’s street-smart charm, while British-Gujarati actress Naomi Scott gives a fire-cracker performance as Princess Jasmine
Will Smith will not escape the Robin Williams' comparisons
Shana O'Neil, Hypable
If you’re of a certain age, Robin Williams is your genie. Aladdin was very much his vehicle. For the most part, Will Smith is a great genie. Especially in the quieter and more emotional moments the film affords him.
Peter Debruge, Variety
Will Smith steps into Robin Williams’ shoes, bringing fresh attitude to the role of the Genie in Guy Ritchie's high-rish, mostly rewarding live-action remake.
Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
Smith, faced with the impossible task of living up to Robin Williams' iconic voice performance, easily makes the role his own. His infectious personality shines throughout, and he even manages to infuse his martini-swilling Genie with moving emotional moments
Sean Keane, CNET
Smith is at his best when he puts his own energetic magic in Genie's corner, but he doesn't exude the same warmth as Williams did, and his magical shtick can be a bit of a sensory overload in live action.
The nostalgia factor doesn't save Aladdin
Kate Erbland, IndieWire
There’s plenty of plot to drive Ritchie’s film but the third act of “Aladdin” is so laden (and leaden) with major plot points that it wallops all the fun that came before
Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly
What’s old is new again — but not quite as good as you remembered it. Aladdin is…fine, but it has no real reason for being beyond, you know, capitalism. A whole new world, it’s not.
Jason Guerrasio, Business Insider
Ritchie tries to take the spirit of the original movie and shake it up a bit so it has some original flair. Sadly, what he delivers feels like a super-expensive community production of a classic. It's like watching Shakespeare at your local playhouse — if that playhouse were given unlimited resources.
William Bibbiani, The Wrap
The remake rehashes the original in a pleasing but perfunctory way: It’s extremely satisfying to see these roles finally filled by non-white actors, but the movie still feels like a wholly western interpretation of one of the tales from “One Thousand and One Nights.”
