✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

You have reached the limit of free articles.


To enjoy unlimited access to Culture Whisper plus a pair of free tickets to a London event sign up for FREE.
Find out more about Culture Whisper


Sign up by Email or Facebook.

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy

Each week, we sent newsletters and communication featuring articles, our latest tickets invitations, and exclusive offers.

Occasional information about discounts, special offers and promotions.


OR
LOG IN

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

Thanks for signing up to Culture Whisper.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to verify your account.



EXPLORE CULTURE WHISPER
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy
Forgot your username or password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up

OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

If you click «Log in with Facebook» and are not a Culture Whisper user, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and to our Privacy Policy, which includes our Cookie Use

Turning tips into memories

Get started Login
  • Home
  • Going Out
    • Things to do
    • Food & Drink
    • Theatre
    • Visual Arts
    • Cinema
    • Kids
    • Festival
    • Gigs
    • Dance
    • Classical Music
    • Opera
    • Immersive
    • Talks
  • Staying In
    • TV
    • Books
    • Cook
    • Podcast
    • Design
    • Netflix
  • Life & Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifting
    • Wellbeing
    • Lifestyle
    • Shopping
    • Jewellery
  • Explore
  • About us
  • Tickets
  • Membership
  • Get Started
  • Membership
  • Tickets
Get our exclusive content
+ choose a pair of free tickets from our edit of favourite events
Cinema

Aladdin live action film review ★★★★★

22 May 19 – 22 May 20, TIMES VARY

In the Aladdin live-action remake, our title hero (Mena Massoud) summons a Genie (Will Smith). Given three wishes, he uses one to woo to Princess of Agrabah (Naomi Scott)

By Euan Franklin on 22/5/2019

Mena Massoud in the new live-action Aladdin
Mena Massoud in the new live-action Aladdin
Aladdin live action film review 3 Aladdin live action film review Michael Dalton
Directed by Guy Ritchie

Starring Will Smith, Mesa Massoud, Naomi Scott

Runtime: 2h8mins


The original Disney Aladdin (1992) has its problems, mostly in terms of representation. Depicting the Middle-east as a land of sword-swallowers and devious merchants doesn't sit well anymore, or even in 1992. But in Guy Ritchie’s live-action remake there's an clear attempt to update the story to be more inclusive for modern audiences.


It’s a commendable plight, especially given the diversity of the cast, which consists mostly of black or Middle-eastern actors populating the streets of Agrabah. But despite the laughs and thrills and up-to-date attitudes, the new Aladdin feels like an underwhelming copy of the cartoon.



Mena Massoud is a lively performer with a funny sense of cluelessness


Aladdin, the street thief who’s turned into a prince by a genie via a magic lamp, is played by Mena Massoud. He's a lively performer with a funny sense of cluelessness, particularly when attempting portray his royal persona, Ali Ababwa. But contrary to Aladdin, Massoud has no glint of rebellion on his face, his smile gleeful rather than cheeky. It's easier to imagine him as a charming love interest in a Netflix romcom.


However, Will Smith and Naomi Scott, playing the Genie and Princess Jasmine, slip into their roles nicely.


It’s probably not fair to compare Smith’s Genie to Robin Williams’ original, but thankfully he doesn’t attempt a half-baked impersonation. Smith's take on the rambunctious blue spirit, the subject of many mocking memes, is bursting with comedy and magic. His Genie is also more caring, being paternal as much as friendly.



Will Smith's take on the Genie can be exceptionally funny


Although there’s not nearly enough of Jasmine, the princess who Aladdin tries to woo with his princely transformation, Naomi Scott delivers a sad and dazzling performance.


The original princess was quite a strong female character (for the ‘90s), but Ritchie and co-writer John August make her even stronger – wanting to rule rather than marry. She's disinterested by her choice of princes and fancies herself as a more suitable Sultan of Agrabah.


Jasmine reaches her musical zenith with the new feminist song Speechless, the most powerful addition to the remake. It's a call to reject the demands of domineering men, chiefly Jafar, her father’s villainous second-in-command (‘better for you to be seen and not heard’). Scott enraptures herself in the sadness of the song, her performance so absorbing and heartfelt that the film’s many inadequacies are almost forgotten. Almost.



Naomi Scott delivers a sad and dazzling performance as Princess Jasmine


In live action, the sensual quality of the original animation is lost, emphasising the 3-D and removing the cartoon’s expressionistic detail. The remake is much less scary and intense, Jafar in particular looking torn from a pantomime. But an occasional sense of Whole New World adventure seeps out, and it's hard not to embrace its mythical sense of wonder.


There’s plenty not to like in this Aladdin, but some sweeping moments with flying carpets, snuggly CGI tigers, and familiar Disney songs are charming enough to endure its faults - even with its unnecessarily long 128-minute runtime.





What Aladdin live action film review
When 22 May 19 – 22 May 20, TIMES VARY
Price £ determined by cinemas
Website Click here for more information

You might also like
Free for Members
Highlights to catch at the Roundhouse this season
Free pairs of tickets available
22 Nov 19 - 21 Dec 19

Roundhouse, Camden Winter Season

Members only All booked Members only

Most popular

UK Disneyland? Paramount Theme Park, Kent. Photo: Paramount
Everything you need to know about UK Disneyland, Kent's London Resort
Things to do in London this weekend: 6 – 8 December
Things to do in London this weekend: 6 – 8 December
Ring in 2020: London's Best New Year's Eve Parties
Ring in 2020: London's Best New Year’s Eve parties to book early

Editor's Picks

Taron Egerton in Rocketman
Rocketman review
Noah Jupe in Honey Boy
The best films out now
Margot Robbie stars in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (UK release: 14 August)
Best movies of Summer 2019: Film releases to bookmark

Aladdin

Disney

Will Smith

Guy Ritchie

Cinema

2019

You might like

  • Donald Glover and Beyoncé voice Simba and Nala in Jon Favreau's The Lion King

    The Lion King review ★★★★★

  • Jungle Book live action film

    Jungle Book, Disney film review ★★★★★

  • King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

    King Arthur: Legend of the Sword review: ★★★★★

  • David Beckham and Guy Ritchie buy £3 pub The Walmer Castle

    The Walmer Castle pub: David Beckham and Guy Ritchie’s new joint

  • The Culture Whisper team
  • What is Culture Whisper membership
  • Corporate membership
  • Give a gift membership
  • Retrieve a gift membership
  • Contact us
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Discover
  • Venues
  • Restaurants
  • Stations
  • Boroughs

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY
TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY CULTURE WHISPER

You’ve clicked to view the best of our content that we
save exclusively for our members.

If you liked what you saw, subscribe from just £15 and get
unlimited access to our unique culture service as well as
all of our membership benefits.

BECOME A MEMBER ×

Want a pair of free tickets every month?
Upgrade to Gold Whisper now
and save 10% with GOLD10.
Become a premium member today.

UPGRADE NOW ×