US/UK, 2021. Live-action story of Disney villain, Cruella. Starring Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, John McCrea, Emily Beecham, Mark Strong, Kayvan Novak, Kirby Howell-Baptiste. Directed by Craig Gillespie. 134 minutes. Rated PG (Mild themes, violence, sense of threat).
Cruella. We all know who she is. In fact, she achieved worldwide fame 60 years ago in Disney’s animated film version of Dodie Smith’s popular novel, 101 Dalmatians. Her reputation, especially with her surname, De Vil, was reinforced in the 1990s in Disney’s live-action stories with Glenn Close embodying Cruella. Who could ask for anything more. Well, of course, in the trend in the superheroes and villains movies, an origin story.
So, here we are, back in the 1960s, at least for this story’s purposes, with the birth of Estella, who grows up in the north of England. Abrasive at school, especially towards bullies, and with her characteristic black and white hair and a dark personality, Cruella sometimes emerges. Estella is expelled from school (though her kindly mother quickly insists to the principal that she is transferring her daughter to avoid expulsion).
And this is all being narrated by the older Cruella, Emma Stone.
There are many elements of black comedy in this origin story, an initial death which is rather shocking – and has some shocking consequences. Estella wanders around a lavish mansion, chasing her dog, causing all kinds of mayhem, the home of fashion-designer icon, the Baroness. Of course, Cruella is going to meet her match – or the Baroness meet her match in Cruella – a clash of the Titans of the fashion world, so to speak, especially when the Baroness is played by Emma Thompson. Emma is the queen of British haute couture (lending itself to the happy pun, haughty Couture). Her staring and arrogant manner is a severe one-note performance.
But, there is a lot of preliminary entertainment when little Estella teams up with two young thieves, Jasper and Horace, spending 10 years picking a pocket or two on London transport. But, Estella has a talent for fashion design and eventually, Jasper providing false references, gets a job at the Baroness’s enterprise, cleaning the toilets amongother things! And looked down on by a prim, haughty manager. And there are several of those in the Baroness’s employee, especially with her extensive security guard.
One of the challenges in appreciating Estella is that we know that Cruella is going to overwhelm Estella. The voice-over keeps reassuring us of this. And Estella does have some good moments, and relates well to her friends Jasper (Joel Fry) and the rotund Horace, a touch dim and sentimental (Paul Walter Hauser from Richard Jewell).
Ultimately, fashion takes over, fashion in London in the 1970s (accompanied by a huge playlist of popular songs of the period). The costume designers have obviously been working overtime, lavish dress after dress, gown after gown, displayed by the two Emmas.
Which will ultimately lead to combat, confrontation, a great deal of mean-mindedness on the part of both Cruella and the Baroness, and an ultimate stand-off. No prize for working out who will win! It is how the victory is achieved is the important thing, quite tricky and complex (from Australian Tony McNamara’s ironic screenplay).
The film runs for 134 minutes so it is not just some quickie either in running time or in production values.
Disney
Released 27 May
Peter Malone MSC is an associate Jesuit Media