Tried too hard.

Rating: 3/10 (2 April 2020)

I feel as if it tried to hard. Instead of being a friendly reminder of our childhood it attempted to surpass it. Unfortunately, it was kinda sloppy. There were some things I did appreciate. For example, I do like the fact that they tried their best to cast appropriately for the region the story was based in ( unlike the live action Beauty and the Beast). Also, it was a beautiful movie. The colors were great and the animation nice.
I don't appreciate them casting a clueless European in the role as one of the princes when it seems it was more of a not so subtle statement rather than a casting choice that drove anything, even a good joke.
I understand why they made Jasmine a stronger character but at points it seemed like in doing that they held back her potential because they remembered that the movie they were trying to remake wasn't about her.
A love interest for the genie was completely unnecessary and kinda confusing. Just to make it work, they had to rush in some quick 20 seconds of filler to remind the audience of what we were able to figure out as soon as the movie began.
The new songs were bleh. Totally forgettable, and didn't help drive the movie. They actually had to stop the progress of the movie to fit them in. It was completely jarring.
Finally Will Smith. While he wasn't the worst I think there were other actors who could have done just as good or even better. Right off the top of my head, Jason Mantzoukas from Brooklyn nine-nine. I get it, but if they wanted someone high energy, then even Jack Black would have been a better fit.
There was more but at this point I think I have made it clear how I felt. I wish it were entertaining beating waiting to go from one scene to the next to see what they butchered. Despite the good, it's just not worth the watch.