Snow White: Disney manages to bring back the magic

It’s safe to say that the lead-up to Disney’s live action Snow White has been far from enchanted. With an endless string of controversies, ranging from CGI Dwarves to the political views of its two leading actresses, the film’s promotional tour has seemed as though it had eaten its own poisoned apple. Things became so heated in fact that it almost seemed like Disney was trying to limit the press tour in order to mute the noise. After all, Lilo and Stitch is on deck to the end of May.

Imagine my surprise when I found that Snow White was actually pure magic.

Directed by Marc Webb, Snow White reintroduces the world to its first princess. Kept in out of sight by her stepmother, the Wicked Queen (Gal Gadot), Snow White (Rachel Zegler) lives a quiet life of subservience. However, when the Queen becomes jealous of her step-daughter, she attempts to have her killed. After Snow White escapes into the Enchanted Forest, she teams with seven dwarves and a band of thieves to take back the Kingdom.

Admittedly, Webb’s career has been a series of hits (500 Days of Summer, The Amazing Spider-Man) and misses (Gifted, The Amazing Spider-Man 2). He has the ability to elevate cinematic relationships and empower his female characters. But he also can become over-indulgent. However, with Snow White, Webb finds the perfect balance between these two worlds. This film is meant to immerse the viewer into a wonderful world of whimsy. It’s a throwback to the classic tale of heroes, villains and magic that became the Disney’s template for decades. As such, Webb bathes his world with soft, glowing colours and warm hues. Although the world feels foreign too us, it also feels familiar. The type of environment that stems from books read to us at our bedside when we were children.

It is a (literal) fairytale brought to life.

It should be stated that remaking any film that’s almost 90 years old (!) is bound to come with challenges and inevitable changes. Times have changed and so have our understanding of womanhood. As a result, Snow White’s name no longer stems from her skin colour but from the storm that raged during her birth. Her relationship with her true love is less about ‘finding a prince’ so much as it is finding someone that shares her heart for change. And ‘true love’s kiss’ stems from relationship and consent. 

For reasons such as these, although she never loses her characteristic grace and beauty, there’s no question that this truly is a more empowered vision of Snow White. And Zegler is the right person for the role. In every scene, Zegler gives [modern] princess. There’s a genuine spirit within her that is the very definition of Disney’s new template for strong female characters She is passionate about her people, caring for those in her care and confident in the need for change. She lights up the screen with her smile and knows when she needs to stand up for what’s right.

But the biggest change may be the way that Disney has moved their ‘wish’ for their princess. In the past, Disney princesses have spent their days pining to find the man that can make their dreams come true. While it’s no secret that they have worked hard to move away from this stereotype in the last decade or so, Snow White cares about more than a relationship. 

Instead, she cares about her kingdom being a place of equity for all. 

That’s an important (and telling) change to the film’s definition of whimsy. (In fact, it almost feels as though it was ripped from the headlines.) In Snow White, the world of the past was a dreamlike place where everyone could share their resources with one another. However, when the Evil Queen decides to keep things for herself, everyone suffers. For Snow White, the real wish that lies upon her heart is to return to a time when things can heal once again. (For example, it’s no coincidence that Zegler substitutes performing ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’ with ‘Waiting on a Wish’.) Even though the key components to Snow White remain, that’s the new Disney dream.

And, honestly, that’s precisely what these ‘live action remakes’ are supposed to do. By recycling their own material, Disney has drawn fire for their lack of originality. But they’re also an opportunity to redeem their own stories. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a charming classic and massive achievement for its day. But that doesn’t mean that it still feels relevant today. When done well, these films can help us see these old stories with fresh eyes and a modern tone. And Snow White is a solid example.

Admittedly, the film is far from perfect. Gadot’s Wicked Queen is less than memorable and the film’s finale struggles to bring all the pieces together. Even so, I can’t deny that Snow White is truly one of the better live action remakes of their animated films.

For many, the changes that have been made will be unwelcome. (Although, honestly, how many diehard Snow White fans are actually out there?) At the same time, this is also the type of film that can become the definitive version of a classic tale for young girls of this generation. This is a film designed for those who miss Disney princess magic. 

And, while it might not be for everyone, that’s a wish that many have been waiting on.

Snow White is available in theatres on Friday, March 21^st, 2025.