The Wasteland Reviewer

Snow White (2025) Written Review

At least Disney is going way back to the beginning with these live-action remakes, right? The original animated feature of the Disney legacy was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and now we are getting Disney’s own take on a new version. There have been plenty of retellings of this classic fairy tale but now we get a new Disney version almost 90 years later. Drawing upon the original animated features, elements from the original Grimm fairy tale, and modern sensibilities, this new version hits theaters with a whirlwind of controversy. A non-white Snow White. Palestine vs Israel supports clashing in the main cast. No more dwarfs turned into CGI dwarfs. The time has finally come to see what this film has to offer. 

Does Marc Webb capture the magic of this beloved fairy tale story? There are certainly some fun and charming elements to this film. The music numbers have energy and charm for sure. The songs from the original deliver especially but they have some new editions that are certified ear worms. Catchy and fun, the musical elements bring the goods. The new villain song had a lot of potential even if the cast lets it down. There unfortunately are a ton of CGI backgrounds and sets in the film which makes the practical sets stand out even better when they show up. The dwarfs have a specific look (like Tin Tin), and they honestly work just fine (if you can navigate the uncanny valley). The CGI animals though are adorable and work well in the film, bringing some good old-fashioned joy. The colors pop for sure especially with some of the great costumes and make-up in the film. The script might be overstuffed but Webb does his best to keep the pace moving. There are some solid creepy moments (including the eerie forest) and Webb is able to balance the right tone for the film (playful, charming, and romantic). 

How does Erin Cressida Wilson’s script update this story? For a film that is almost two hours, they obviously had to add a bunch to the story. The elements of the original film still work. Some of the most engaging and fun moments in the film are the iconic musical numbers as well as Snow White’s dynamic with the dwarfs. Dopey (of all the characters) gets a significant arc that is moving and endearing. His dynamic with Snow White just might be the best part of the film. The film’s romance is no longer about a random prince but a bandit who builds some connection with Snow White. This makes for a charming enough romance. The dynamic with the Evil Queen has added layers as Snow White is not just a damsel on the run but is trying to stage a revolution against the queen and take her father’s kingdom back. That certainly adds depth and makes Snow White a more interesting character. Making the film’s romantic lead role a bandit with scenes to develop a connection with Snow White before the big kiss makes it more impactful. The film does struggle with being overstuffed as it offers up both a set of seven dwarfs but also seven bandits. They take screen time away from each other and the film would have benefited from just focusing on one group of the other. 

How does the cast stand out in this big CGI blockbuster musical? Rachel Zegler is just incredible as she delivers so well with the singing scenes (including her big number “Waiting on a Wish”). She injects empathy and sincerity into her performance. Her natural charisma and charm shines so brightly in her performance as Snow White. Gal Gadot on the other hand…just feels a bit flat. She gives a passable performance, but the Evil Queen would have benefited from an actor with more natural charisma. The film has a sassy and campy villain song for her (“All is Fair”) but it doesn’t quite reach the potential heights. Andrew Burnap does a fine job as the roguish bandit Jonathan. He is a bit vanilla personality wise, but he does a fine job with the emotional beats as well as the singing. There are a few standouts amongst the dwarfs including Ted Lasso alum Jeremy Swift as Doc and Martin Klebba as Grumpy. There is not a ton of standout acting in the film, but Zegler brings enough star power to anchor things down. 

Does Snow White change the perception of these Disney live action remakes? This is a solid effort and that is not enough to change the audience’s frustration with Disney. But the film does deliver a charming, good time that the whole family can enjoy. Zegler is a star and easily makes up for all the controversy around her cast and subsequent comments. There are some elements that could have been trimmed and a couple of recasting that would have benefited the film. In the end, this is an inoffensive adaptation that makes some needed updates and delivers a good time.