Cruella de Vil has always been an icon of flamboyant villainy, being a glamorous London heiress with a penchant for fashioning fur coats out of Dalmatians. She appeared in Walt Disney Productions’ 17th animated feature film, namely 1961’s 101 Dalmatians, along with its many sequels, live-actions, and spin-offs. Craig Gillespie’s latest comedy-drama, Cruella, spins the yarn of an origin story like no other, all while introducing elements of dark comedy and camp extravagance that teeter on the verge of being termed “anti-Disney.” Brazenly bold and expertly woven, Cruella excels on multiple fronts - prime being its dark humor and aesthetics, and a deliciously sublime Emma Stone.
Set in 1970s London and amidst the emergence of the punk rock movement, Cruella unfolds not unlike a bildungsroman, tracing the trajectory of Estella (Stone), and the tragedies and ecstasies that mark her formative years. Her mother, Catherine (Emily Beecham) plays a seminal role in shaping her worldview who, despite being a loving and nurturing presence, often encourages her to “fit in” in order to stay out of trouble. Estella is perceived as somewhat different for her beautiful, black-and-white ombré hair and her somewhat rebellious nature, as evidenced by the reaction of her principal after she repeatedly gets into fights with a band of boys who are bullies. However, while on the way to London, tragedy strikes, the type that alters her life forever and shatters her from within, also derailing her childhood dream of being a fashion designer.
Slivers of true happiness present themselves in the form of two pick-pocketers, Horace (Paul Walter Hauser) and Jasper (Joel Fry), who form close, familial bonds with Estella over the years. She soon finds herself working for the Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson), the particularly hard-to-please owner of a prestigious fashion house, who is wildly reminiscent of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. This is when Cruella becomes tautly paced, with each scene unraveling with masterful execution. Dark humor and tragic pathos is seamlessly woven within the fabric of the narrative, punctuated by the most flamboyant glimpses into the high fashion of ‘70s London. Moreover, the extremely enjoyable, over-the-top shenanigans of the Baroness imbue the film with a certain charm, although the tone changes abruptly when her actions gradually edge towards cruel viciousness.
Stone is the absolute epicenter of Cruella, and she owns the role completely, immersing herself within the dual roles that flesh out the nuances of an emotionally driven backstory. Estella’s transformation into Cruella de Vil is neither rushed nor forced, as she embraces her new, devilish alter-ego with great panache, albeit pushed forward by unbearable pain. While it is thrilling to watch Cruella go up against the Baroness - scenes that are beautifully shot, especially the neon-tinted sequence wherein she unravels a stunning punk costume while The Stooges play in the background - it is important to acknowledge how utterly broken she is by life. This comes with the risk of losing oneself in the madness, something which is translated with utter care onscreen, making Cruella’s story one that is marked with genuine depth. Thompson is equally delightful as the cold and calculating Baroness, and it is most likely that audiences will find the ending deeply cathartic in terms of poetic justice.
While Stone tethers and grounds Cruella as a whole, it is Hauser’s performance that stands out throughout the film, as he adds an element of hilarity that feels natural and unassuming. Most importantly, Cruella’s brilliance would go understated without acknowledging the film’s breathtaking costume design, which is largely influenced by punk rock aesthetics and an urge to make a bold, fiery statement. Whereas most Disney remakes have been limited by a lack of originality, both in terms of script and character development, Cruella emerges as a much-needed act of rebellion, with the titular character donning an identity invested with true meaning. Needless to say, Cruella is the future.
Cruella will be available in theatres in the U.S. and on Disney+ on May 28, 2021. It is 134 minutes long and rated PG-13 for sequences of moderate violence, profanity, and other thematic elements.
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