Aladdin

Rating: 5/10 (27 May 2019)

Disney have been through their animation back catalogue for the last few years, with successes like Alice in Wonderland, The Jungle Book, and Beauty and the Beast, and so-so or disappointing results like Cinderella, Maleficent, and Dumbo, and the 1992 favourite, originally featuring the voice of Robin Williams, gets the same treatment. I saw the trailer, and I had mixed feelings about seeing the film at all, because director Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Swept Away, Sherlock Holmes, King Arthur) hasn't made a good film in years, the new Jafar looked too young and good looking, and the lead star as the Genie looked slightly creepy being blue, but I gave it a chance. Basically Aladdin (Mena Massoud) is a kind-hearted street urchin living in the desert kingdom of Agrabah who steals to get by with his pet monkey Abu. One day, he rescues and befriends Princess Jasmine of Agrabah (Naomi Scott), who has grown tired of her sheltered life, and has snuck out of the palace dressed as a civilian. She hides her true identity and tells Aladdin she is the princess's handmaiden. Meanwhile, Jafar (Marwan Kenzari), the Royal Vizier, is tired of being "second best", with his pet parrot Iago (voiced by Alan Tudyk), he is seeking a magic lamp hidden within the Cave of Wonders in order to become Sultan. The only person worthy of entering the cave is a "diamond in the rough", whom Jafar later identifies is Aladdin. During their time together, Abu stole a bracelet from Jasmine that belonged to her mother, Aladdin sneaks into the palace to return it to her and makes a promise to meet her again. Aladdin is captured by the palace guards on Jafar's orders, he is taken to the desert where Jafar offers to make him rich enough to impress Jasmine, revealing her true identity. Aladdin enters the Cave of Wonders to retrieve the lamp, inside he finds a magic carpet, and he does indeed find the lamp. But Abu defies the instructions not to touch any of the treasure, the cave starts to collapse, with the carpet rushing to escape to help them escape. Aladdin gives the lamp to Jafar, but Jafar throws them back into the cave, but not before Abu steals the lamp back. Trapped, Aladdin gives the lamp a rub and meets the Genie (Will Smith) who lives inside. The Genie explains that he has the power to grant Aladdin three wishes, with the exceptions of wishing for more wishes, making people fall in love, and bringing people back from the dead. Aladdin tricks the Genie into freeing them from the cave without rubbing the lamp and therefore using a using a wish. Aladdin is curious of what the Genie would wish for, the Genie says he would wish to be free of servitude, to be his own master, so Aladdin makes a promise to use his third wish to wish for his freedom. Aladdin tells the Genie of his interest in Jasmine, but that she can only marry a prince, so he uses his first wish to become a prince himself, hoping to impress Jasmine. Back in Agrabah, Aladdin, as "Prince Ali of Ababwa", arrives in a large spectacle, but Jasmine is unimpressed. Aladdin tries to make a good impression with Jasmine a party organised by the Sultan (Homeland's Navid Negahban), Genie subtly helps him with some dance moves, but suggests that he should just be himself. While Genie finds a love interest of his own, with Jasmine's handmaiden Dalia (Nasim Pedrad), Aladdin takes Jasmine on a ride on the magic carpet to see the world. Jasmine deduces Aladdin's true identity but convinces her that he only dresses as a peasant to escape the stresses of royal life. However, Jafar discovers Aladdin's true identity and threatens him to reveal where the lamp is hidden, he refuses and Jafar throws him into the sea. Abu and the carpet arrive with the lamp, Aladdin rubs it before fainting, Genie manages to find a way to save his life, as the cost of his second wish. Aladdin returns to Jasmine, together they expose Jafar's evil plan and the Sultan has Jafar arrested, but Iago steals the dungeon keys and frees him. Aladdin is offered the position as heir to the Sultan, but he fears he will lose Jasmine if the truth is revealed, he reluctantly breaks his promise to the Genie, upsetting him. Jafar, with his own street smarts, steals the lamp from Aladdin, becoming the Genie's new master, and using his first wish to become Sultan. The guards are initially forced to obey Jafar's orders to take Jasmine away, but she finally has her say, convincing Hakim (Numan Acar), head of the palace guards who is loyal to the Sultan of Agrabah, to refuse to follow his commands. Jafar therefore uses his second wish to rule over Agrabah as the most powerful sorcerer in the world, he exiles Aladdin and Abu to a frozen wasteland and threatens to kill Dalia and the Sultan unless Jasmine agrees to marry him. However, the Genie magically sends the carpet go to rescue Aladdin. As the wedding ceremony is commencing, Aladdin returns and Jasmine helps him get the lamp back. Jafar transforms Iago into a roc (gigantic parrot) to chase them and steal back the lamp, destroying the carpet in the process. Jafar threatens Aladdin, who taunts him, saying the Genie is more powerful, and he is "second best". Jafar is tricked into using his last wish to become "the most powerful being in the universe", but not being specific with his words, the Genie transforms Jafar into a Genie himself, bound to his new lamp, Jafar ends up trapped inside it, taking Iago with him. Agrabah and everything else is returned to normal, the Genie banishes Jafar's lamp to the cave and restores the carpet. He advises Aladdin to use his third and final wish so he can marry Jasmine, but instead, Aladdin decides to keep his promise and frees the Genie, turning him human. The Sultan declares Jasmine will be the next ruler of Agrabah and can change the law in order to marry Aladdin. Genie becomes a mariner to explore the world with Dalia, who becomes his wife, and they have two children, while Aladdin and Jasmine get married and start a new life together. Also starring Game Night's Billy Magnussen as Prince Anders and Robby Haynes as Razoul. Smith is a littlee unsettling when he's blue, but he does bring his own kind of pizzazz to the role of the Genie, Massoud is a little bland as the hero, Scott is impressive as the beautiful and outspoken princess, and Kanzari is a little lacking as the villain. It feels fresh and familiar at the same time, you know what to expect with the story, little tweaks are made here and there, it is cheesy at times, but the "Friend Like Me", "Prince Ali", and of course "A Whole New World" hit the right spot, plus "Speechless", the new song Jasmine, the special effects are good, and the family will enjoy it, I was actually pleasantly surprised, I thought I might hate it, a fun fantasy adventure. Worth watching!