Cruella

Note: This review was written on May 28, 2021. Also, a warning: This review will contain spoilers, and the film had just come out when the review was first written, but please feel free to continue reading if you would like.

My family and I recently watched the newest live action film from Disney, Cruella, on Disney Plus. I tried to avoid it, as I really love the animated version and did not want to spoil my perception of the story, but in the end, I could not stay away any longer. I was dying to know how this wicked Disney character’s story began. I have to say, I was very impressed. I was prepared for the possibility that the film would not be as good as I was expecting (of course). I have seen many films where the trailer sets the film up to be really good, only to find myself not that knocked out by the movie itself. It’s sort of like what can happen with food. Sometimes a meal can look completely delicious, but then taste pretty bad. That is not Cruella. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It kept me and my parents thoroughly engaged. My father said, “It made me feel compassion for Cruella”, and I agree. I love a good origin story, and I feel as though Disney has owed us a strong origin story like this one for a long time. The most important thing for me, upon learning about this film, was who would be in the cast. In any story, especially one telling the origins of one of Disney’s best villains, it’s important to know who is playing the young version of said villain. I was initially satisfied with the casting choices of this movie. After seeing the movie, I have come to the (relieved) conclusion that it was cast perfectly.

We have Emma Stone as the wonderfully wicked Cruella, or Estella, as she was named at birth. It’s unfortunate how Cruella’s story begins. She was pulled from her school for continuously getting into trouble. The reason behind her troublemaking was actually caused by constant ridicule from her classmates on account of the black and white hair she had since birth. An interesting touch to her origin story, I think. Instead of making up some ridiculous reason as to how her hair turned black and white, she was just born with it like that, which makes more sense to me. Sometimes people are born with unusual hair. I like her hair like that. So anyway, her mum decided to take her to London for a fresh start. Her mum goes to someone she knows in London for some help, and ends up “falling off” of a balcony after being attacked by a pack of her friend’s dalmatians. Hmm…a coincidence? No, I think not. This was an important aspect to add, introducing the resentment Cruella has for that breed of dog early on. Her mother dying is what led poor Cruella to meet her future henchmen, Jasper and Horace. That is how her real journey began. It’s what led to her working at a retail store, and then a fashion company, run by the wicked and mysterious Baroness, played to perfection by Emma Thompson. I’ve seen Thompson play grumpy and stubborn characters before this film, but had yet to see her play a truly bad person. I actually found it satisfying. I appreciate being able to see actors I admire vary the types of characters they play, and be able to expand their reach. 

Stone played the lead character incredibly well. She was a believable Cruella, and her voice slowly transitioning from the mischievous but innocent Estella to the devious Cruella was amazing. She really was playing two very different people. Stone played the character of Estella, when she had found a family in her friendship and partnership with Horace and Jasper, and had gotten a position at the fashion design headquarters for the evil Baroness. There she was soft spoken, polite, and obedient. She still had a kindness and innocence to her. Stone played that part just as strongly as she did playing the dangerously fashionable but vengeful Cruella. Why vengeful? The Baroness was, in fact, the owner of the dalmatians from Cruella’s childhood traumatic event, whistling to the dogs to scare Cruella’s mum and cause her to fall to her death. How did those two know each other? It’s the real twist of the film. It’s the reason why being devious and troubled seemed to be in Cruella from the very beginning. Yes – it does turn out that the Baroness is Cruella’s biological mother. No – it is still not surprising that the Baroness did away with her adoptive mother. She did not know the woman was her daughter’s adoptive mother. She had just previously worked for the Baroness as a maid and was therefore not likely to be suspected. Why was Cruella adopted? It is because the twisted Baroness had ordered for Cruella to be killed the minute she was born. I know. Who is the real cruel and psychotic person here?

What was so meaningful to me in watching this story is that we got to see how Cruella’s story began. In particular, we saw how she was interested in fashion from the beginning thanks to her adopted mother. We got to see how she met Horace and jasper, a significant part to her origin story, forming a close friendship with them before they became her henchmen of sorts. 

Overall, I was really impressed and engaged with this film. The costumes were extravagant and gorgeous. Emma Stone’s performance showed that she invested a lot into this role and allowed herself to become as familiar and comfortable with her character as possible. This goes for both Estella and Cruella, whom Estella called herself as a child when trouble sought her out, and whom she allowed herself to become when her wicked side ran wild later in the film. At certain moments throughout the movie it was really impressive to me how fast Emma was switching from the kindness and obedience of Estella to the confidence and, well, cruelness of Cruella. The casting overall was terrific. It was a great origin story that cut no corners, left no “stone” unturned, and pleased in every way. Even though I just spoiled the whole film for those of you who haven’t seen it (Sorry!), Cruella is something I would highly recommend!