The 2025 iteration of ‘Snow White’ is a canvas of stunning colours, fantastic CGI and an iconic story – but how does it stack up in the era of live-action remakes?
If it weren’t for studios (including Disney, thank goodness) finally realising that damsel-in-distress stories have – to put it lightly – aged poorly and serve practically no purpose in the modern era, a ‘Snow White’ remake in 2025 would probably feel dated, a little unnecessary, and a step back in time.
Luckily, contemporary stories of women taking back their power and reminding the world of their strengths are being green-lit and presented on the silver screen more than ever. . . Plus, this ‘Snow White’, while still honouring the source material, feels thoughtful, and much more in line with these principles than Disney’s first ever animated feature did.
It still feels kind of weird to watch a man kiss an unconscious woman though.
Rachel Zegler’s Snow White is a career highlight. She is a fantastic Disney Princess – graceful and charismatic, with a whimsical voice and an unbreakable foundation of strength and courage. She is undoubtedly the best part of the film, which should be the case anyway, given she’s the titular character. Snow White feels complex, nuanced, and stuck in a world she’d rather not inhabit – her character arc is believable and it’s satisfying to see where she ends up as the film comes to a close.
A controversial choice to make the seven dwarfs entirely CGI had audiences shaking in their boots when information about the film began to surface online – particularly for those in the dwarfism community. Conversations around whether actual humans should’ve been cast or not ran rampant across the web, and Hollywood actor Peter Dinklage weighed in by suggesting a story about "seven dwarfs living in the cave" felt unnecessary and dated altogether.
Criticisms and varied perspectives on this aside, from a review perspective, the CGI-crafted dwarfs look great. Early footage and teaser trailers suggested otherwise, but the final product (including incredibly detailed close-up shots of their faces) is pretty impressive. Audiences get kicks from their hilarious line deliveries, life-like emotions and physical comedy. Particularly Dopey – a fan-favourite from the original film – who is a total scene-stealer each time he’s on screen.
The creatures of the forest are another CGI highlight – they're absolutely beautiful, with facial expressions realistic enough to not feel cartoony, but simultaneously tug at heartstrings. The scene in which Snow White initially finds herself surrounded by these kind animals is particularly moving.
Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen is an Evil Queen for a different film. While her performance isn’t terrible, it’s the weakest part of ‘Snow White’. She’s a low-key kind of sinister. . . When this reviewer feels she should be far more colourful and overstated. The expansiveness of ’Snow White’ – its vast landscapes and camp characters – seems to swallow her up, but her performance as the transformed, wizened witch (with much help from hair and make-up) is undoubtedly a stand-out. Her drawled delivery, hunched posture and menacing presence sell her in this state.
Jeff Morrow’s musical score fills the world with beautiful, emotive sounds, and the soundtrack – a mixture of songs from the original and added tracks by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Jack Feldman – feels cohesive and contemporary. Originals like ‘Heigh-Ho’ and ‘Whistle While You Work’ blend nicely with new additions such as ‘Waiting On A Wish’ and ‘A Hand Meets A Hand’.
This is not Disney’s best live-action remake. It’s a fun time at the cinema, which kids and families are going to adore. . . So that might be enough. Technically speaking, there are sprinklings of choices made here which ultimately weaken the final product – but ’Snow White’, with its lush forests and villages, contemporary ideas and some wonderful performances, is still able to stand on its feet as a strong enough cinematic experience which many will love.
★★★☆☆ 1/2.
