Camila Cabello‘s new adaptation of Cinderella is now available on Prime Video, but here’s the question everyone is asking: is it worth watching?
Camila Cabello made her debut in the new adaptation of Cinderella on Prime Video. Disney is not attached to the new version, and that’s a good thing.
When it comes to whether the movie is a masterpiece, the answer is a straight no. Of course not.
We already have a great live adaptation of Cinderella, the 2015 movie with Richard Madden and Lily James. And a whole lot of other Cinderella modern versions.
So could the movie gone better should it have been an original? Yes. Would it have attracted as much attention should it not be yet another adaptation of a beloved fairy tale? No.
Let’s start with the story: This is a modern Cinderella in medieval times. This Cinderella is not interested in Prince Charming (although she is). But Camila’s Cinderella wants to be a businesswoman. She wants to sell her own dresses, in a time when women are not allowed to own businesses. So Cinderella goes to the ball so she could showcase her talent, not to find love.
The movie could’ve been more fast paced. Just like all the other movies nowadays, they rarely to a movie less than two hours. So Cinderella has a runtime of 113 minutes. Which could’ve easily gone down to 90 with absolutely no problem or plot loss.
When it comes to singing, this is where all the talent shines. But it’s also the movie’s biggest problem. With a cast like Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel (Frozen), James Corden, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Pierce Brosnan and Billy Porter, you would expect a lot of great moments. While there are some worth watching moments, the acting is mediocre at best. Camila Cabello does a great job for her first acting gig, but the rest of the talented actors seem not to bother as much.
The singing feels forced at times, and Camila’s lip syncing is surprisingly obvious. The modern choice of songs feels also pretty forced, so do the ad-hoc flash mobs.
Her chemistry with Nicholas Galitzine, who stars as Prince Robert/ Charming, is pretty good. However, one might not fail to notice his resemblance to Cabello’s real life boyfriend, Shawn Mendes. Only that he sounds British.
Now, the film’s biggest problem is that it wants to sound woke so badly. The movie is all about feminism, which, trust me, I love and breathe. But it’s also trying too hard with its lines about self-love and standing up to men in power. Similar to Emma Watson‘s Beauty and the Beast, the beloved princesses want to be ahead of their time. Even though, they weren’t. Camila’s Cinderella struggles with her business even though everyone tells her no, and wants to follow her career instead of her heart.
The best part of the movie is that the plot doesn’t actually revolve around the couple’s impossibility to be together, like all the other Cinderellas, but her struggle to be a working woman. And the Prince doesn’t want to be King, either.
So, in the end, is Cinderella worth watching? No, if you expect a mind-blowing experience. Yes, if you want to chill and enjoy some old songs with a modern twist, a few laugh out loud moments and a few “hell yes” for feminist moments.
Rating: 6.5/10.
