Now playing in theaters and on Amazon Prime Video:
Cinderella--This is a "sassy" new musical version of the venerable yarn. Written and directed by Kay Cannon of the Pitch Perfect flicks, it takes place in a racially and ethnically diverse storybook kingdom, and our heroine (Camila Cabello) wants a career in fashion design more than she wants a boy. Indeed, the incognito Prince (Nicholas Galitzine) gets her to accept his invitation to the ball not by romantically sweeping her off her feet but by promising to introduce her to potential customers.
Neat idea, and while I'm not sure the retelling is as radical as the filmmakers think it is, there's plenty to enjoy, as well as some cringe-inducing moments. The score has a few original tunes, but is mostly comprised of familiar pop numbers; songs from Madonna to Queen to Earth, Wind and Fire to Salt-N-Pepa to Ed Sheeran, among others, get reinterpreted here by the likes of the potent Idina Menzel as the not-quite-completely-wicked Stepmother to Billy Porter as the "Fabulous Godmother" to Minnie Driver as the Prince's Mom. After his Mamma Mia! experience, Pierce Brosnan, as the Prince's stuffy Dad, is mercifully spared any serious singing.
Along with these vets, the youthful leads carry the picture with assurance; the Cuban Cabello has a lovely delicacy, and the stepsisters (Maddie Baillio and Charlotte Spencer) seem like rather fun company, really. And Galitzine manages not to be dull and featureless as the Prince, an achievement all by itself.
Make no mistake, this is a lot of belting in the American Idol manner, and the pushiness can get a little embarrassing at times. But this Cinderella, reportedly conceived by James Corden, who produced--and who plays one of the mice/footmen, with two other excellent Brits--has a tone of built-in self-mockery that takes the edge off this. Overall, the cheesy but irresistible exhilaration of its musical form is infectious.
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