Cruella (2021) – Movie Review

Cruella is a comedy crime-drama film directed by Craig Gillespie. The film is based on the character ‘Cruella De Vil’ from Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians. The film is available on Disney+Hotstar for streaming.

The film follows Estella Miller (Emma Stone), an aspiring fashion designer. After the tragic death of her mother, Estella runs away to London. There, she meets & befriends two street thieves named Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser). Estella, with the help of her friends, lands a job at the Liberty department store, but as a Janitor, and is denied to showcase her designer skills. But, after the series of ridiculous events, Estella gets to impress the Baroness (Emma Thompson), the head of a prestigious London fashion house and a renowned designer. Would Estella be able to fulfill her dream to become a successful fashion designer? Where does this new job with the Baroness take her to? And, exactly what transforms Estella into Cruella? Answers to these questions form a captivating fun-filled and emotional ride.

The first thing I want to talk about this film is that even if this is your first introduction to the character of Estella/Cruella, it’ll not impact your movie-watching experience in any way. The story of the film unfolds in a gripping way and it hardly has any dull moments. The film has a really good mixture of comical and emotional moments. Jenny Beavan’s costume design in the film is one of the spectacular parts of the film. Along with that the direction, the production design, background score, and visual style make it a memorable experience. The only drawback I felt is that the film slows down a little bit in the second half, but eventually picks up the speed. The lead performances by Emma Stone and Emma Thompson are compelling & commendable, and their on-screen rivalry is worth watching. The praising supporting performances by Joel Fry, Paul Hauser, John McCrea, and Mark Strong have added the cherry on the cake.

Verdict : It is a dazzling visual treat and a family-friendly Disney film for all age groups. Whatever your mood is, just go for it.

Rating : 3.7/5

Check the trailer here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpZrVxvG3mk&ab_channel=WaltDisneyStudios

One Comment Add yours

  1. Nitesh Lonare says:

    Good one.

    Like

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