Fun enough

Rating: 7/10 (3 June 2019)

The filmmakers profit from the story development of the 1992 movie, not a lot is changed so they had the wind in their backs as ar as making the story work (Thank you Jeffrey Katzenberg?). Acting is decent enough across the board. Naomi Scott shines as Princess Jasmine. The Prince Ali number is well executed and is one of the high points of the movie. Will Smith seems to hold himself back a little compared to the Robin Williams version of the Genie, but he is still funny enough. I think Marwan Kenzari did well as Jafar. His take on the character is more subtle and nuanced, but less humorous than the animated version. Iago the parrot is also not very funny and a step back from the Gilbert Gottfried version. For some reason, a lot of the action plays in and around the royal palace, making the movie feel constricted. More exterior scenes could have made it breathe.