‘Snow White’ review: A modern fairy tale with substance
While it won’t be hailed as a masterpiece, Snow White is a surprisingly solid adaptation. It’s still a fairy tale, but this time with substance.
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While it won’t be hailed as a masterpiece, Snow White is a surprisingly solid adaptation. It’s still a fairy tale, but this time with substance.
SNOW White and the Seven Dwarfs
THE Evil Queen
Are you happy now, Peter Dinklage? Disney apparently heeded your outrage over casting little people as dwarves in a fairy tale. The result: a jarring ensemble of CGI stand-ins—stiff, soulless, and eerily puppet-like.
By now, it’s clear that Disney is determined to reimagine all its animated classics as live-action adaptations, featuring princesses whose casting choices spark controversy. Rachel Zegler, a Latina who doesn’t look as white as snow, takes the lead but does a poor job of promoting the film due to her personal politics. But the West Side Story actress is talented, and when she sings, she is exceptional—just like Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid (2023). And if there’s one thing a singing princess must do well, it’s sing.
For those bracing for Marc Webb’s Snow White to ruin their childhood nostalgia—don’t. It’s a well-crafted adaptation, with Erin Cressida Wilson’s screenplay adding depth to the simplistic 1937 classic.
A completely faithful retelling of the original would hardly be ideal, as the 1937 Disney princess was nothing more than a glorified housekeeper who was saved by a prince she barely knew. But the animated classic was a product of its time, reflecting an era that saw women as mere caretakers and housekeepers, with marriage to a nobleman as, sadly, their only path to security and fulfillment.
The 2025 adaptation doesn’t resort to radical changes or heavy-handed DEI messaging. Instead, it introduces smart refinements. Snow White is finally more than just a skilled cleaner (a skill born from being forced by her stepmother into servitude), who sings in a high-pitched operatic voice.
Now, she’s a leader with opinions. She is instilled with moral values—to be fair, brave, true, and kind—by her parents, the King and Queen (whose parenting skills deserve high praise).
And why is Snow White’s skin tone not white despite her name? That’s actually given a strong reason in this modern retelling, one that even ties into the film’s core values.
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The Evil Queen (Gal Gadot) is still vain in this version, seeking validation from her mirror on the wall and obsessed with being the fairest of them all. But this adaptation adds a twist, making Snow White an even greater threat.
Gadot, with her naturally large, expressive eyes and kind features, unfortunately lacks the imposing menace the role demands. She attempts to compensate with a deeper voice and dramatic smokey-eye makeup, but her musical numbers are painful to watch.
Her costume, however, is stunning—iridescent fabric mixed with leather, polyester, sequins, and jewels, complete with ASMR nail-tapping. Snow White’s outfit, while staying true to the animated original, translates poorly into live action, coming across as garish and cosplay-like.
Visually, the film lacks magic, resembling a mid-budget Hallmark love story rather than a sweeping fairy tale. Still, it develops the 1937 narrative by introducing an actual plot. It weaves in themes of autocracy versus benevolent monarchy, even mildly touching on socialism, all while remaining accessible to children.
Snow White’s love life also gets an upgrade. Her romance with Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), a Robin Hood-esque bandit, blossoms from mutual admiration and ideological discourse rather than a forced encounter. Their duet, “Princess Problems,” highlights their differences, challenging them and helping them grow—an actual foundation for true love’s kiss.
Meanwhile, the new songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (The Greatest Showman, Dear Evan Hansen) will never rival the brilliance of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s legendary works, and Disney’s “Big Four” era, but they serve the story well enough.
With social media backlash and personal politics overshadowing the film’s release, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. But set that aside and see the film for yourself. While it won’t be hailed as a masterpiece, Snow White is a surprisingly solid adaptation. It’s still a fairy tale, but this time with substance.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Now showing in cinemas.
