Aladdin: The Same Old World

I've been hearing a lot of ruckus about Disney's new live-action remake of Aladdin. It feels like most people are disappointed that the Genie isn't up to their childhood ideal of Robin Williams. Let's be real: Will Smith is not Robin Williams. Go into this movie with that firmly established in your mind and you'll discover a perfectly fine movie that provides sufficient entertainment and pretty things to look at for two hours.

As someone who didn't bother to watch any trailers or pay any attention to this movie before it came out, I was startled during the opening credits to discover that it was directed by Guy Ritchie. He is NOT my first guess when I think of a Disney director. However, this movie is doing well enough at the box office that he probably could make this is a plausible career pivot for his future films. There were moments during the first big musical number when I certainly felt like the direction had gone a bit off the rails - I could swear the actors were sped up and moving entirely too strangely as they ran through the bazaar - but the action sequences were choreographed with verve and kept the energy up as the movie kicked off. And as the actors took command of the proceedings, things went ahead smoothly.

The movie hews pretty faithfully to the plot of the original movie so I won't go into any details. Like with all the recent Disney remakes, there have been attempts to give the princess more of a feminist slant rather than letting her wallow as a damsel in distress. Naomi Scott is lovely as Princess Jasmine, and I'm sure she'll inspire millions of little girls just as the original film inspired me to be Jasmine during my very first Halloween in the United States. We also get a brand new female character, Dalia, played by the wonderful Nasim Pedrad, who offers up more comic relief as Jasmine's handmaiden and allows this movie to pass the Bechdel test. There's plenty of eye-rolling about the notion of Jasmine needing to be married off, and she harbors ambitions of being the Sultan in her own right. She also gets her own original song in this movie, which, to be frank, is not catchy, but oh well, they're trying. She gets to be sarcastic and vulnerable and witty and gorgeous, and seeing how the outfits and hairstyles from the animated film get translated into a live-action film is always a delight. Props to costume designer Michael Wilkinson who certainly had his work cut out for him.

Of note, all of the lead actors (apart from Will Smith of course) have some Indian or Middle Eastern heritage so there's no need to complain about white washing. Mena Massoud plays Aladdin and he successfully captures the character's sly charm. He has a twinkle in his eye and a dimple that will allow you to forgive all manner of transgressions as he lies and worms his way into the palace and the princess's heart. His singing is a bit lackluster in comparison to Naomi Scott, which is particularly evident as they warble A Whole New World, but again, he can charm his way through the entire movie with no objections from me. And Will Smith as the Genie is exactly what you would expect. It's Will Smith covered in blue paint and playing a Genie, very Will Smith-ily. It's a high-octane performance with great special effects and it gets the job done. Marwan Kenzari is a perfectly villainous Jafar, and Navid Negahban slides right into the role of the well-meaning but hapless Sultan. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the brief but memorable role of Prince Anders, a Scandinavian prince who is one of Jasmine's suitors. Played by Billy Magnussen, who was also a prince in Into the Woods, I believe he's officially typecast as buffoonish royalty because he does it so well.

Aladdin clearly had a massive budget and it shows in the gorgeous production design and special effects. It is also quite the cultural hodgepodge - the story is meant to be about Arabs, but there is definitely a Bollywood vibe to this film, particularly when it comes to Jasmine's outfits and the song-and-dance routines. Also, the two leads have American accents while everyone else gets to do whatever accent they feel like doing.  If you are a stickler for cultural accuracy, this movie will give you a migraine, so be forewarned. But if you want some mindless fun, this is the movie for you. Is the movie necessary? No. But is it entertaining and caters to your nostalgia for the 1992 film? Yup.

Booksmart: This One's for the Girls

The high school teen comedy is a robust genre that we have enjoyed for several decades. And yet, with Booksmart, director Olivia Wilde has managed to give us an entirely fresh and delightful take on the genre. Written by women, edited by a woman, produced mostly by women, this movie conclusively proves that we haven't yet run out of stories to tell, and turns out women can be hella funny too. Who knew?

Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever star as Molly and Amy, high school seniors who have been best friends for their entire lives and don't need anyone else because they have each other. Brimming with feminism and ambition, they have kept out of trouble, never gone to any parties, and focused exclusively on academia so that they can get into top universities and ensure their lives are on a successful trajectory. Unfortunately, on the day before graduation, Molly discovers that all the other students that she thought were slackers also got into Yale and Stanford. Turns out you can party on the weekend and still get a 1560 on your SATs. Enraged by this knowledge, Molly decides that she and Amy are going to go to a party and have one last hurrah before graduation, even if they missed out on a whole load of hurrahs during high school. As you can imagine, hijinks ensue.

I won't go into details because everyone needs to treat themselves to this movie and let the hilarity wash over them in waves. Of course there's dalliances with sex, drugs, and all manner of weird teenagers trying to make their mark before they have to start afresh in college. But the core theme of this movie is the steadfast friendship between Molly and Amy that is going to survive any number of indignities. No catty women here - these are two girls who love each other dearly, support each other 100%, and believe wholeheartedly in each other's dreams. Has that therefore led to a co-dependent relationship that prevented them from getting to know other kids in school? Sure. But has that also helped them to blossom into kind and loving women, who despite their mistakes will turn out alright? You bet.

You would be hard pressed to find any villains in Booksmart. Unlike other high school comedies, the other kids aren't truly cruel. They merely have been intimidated by Molly and Amy for four years and assumed that the girls want nothing to do with them. Over the course of the movie, we get to see how these kids have fundamentally misunderstood each other, and the worst they could be accused of is indifference. It doesn't hurt that most of the supporting cast are fully realized characters, with mini backstories and different quirks they bring to the table. In one particularly notable scene, one of Molly's female classmates tells her that while she didn't care so much that the boys gave her a derogatory nickname based on her sexual exploits, she hated that the girls used that nickname too. This is a movie about female solidarity - we don't all need to be friends, but as Madeleine Albright said, there's a special place in hell for women who refuse to help other women.

Like any good high school romp, this movie also features an epic soundtrack that keeps things moving and an all-star supporting cast of "adults" who are the cream of the comedy crop. Jason Sudeikis plays the high school principal with an interesting side gig, while Will Forte and Lisa Kudrow have a fun turn as Amy's embarrassingly loving parents. Jessica Williams also gets the chance to shine as the girls' favorite teacher who doesn't end up acting in the way you quite expect. All told, this movie is firing on all cylinders. But word of warning: as much as watching this movie will make you laugh, you may find yourself unexpectedly tearing up as well. The final scenes encapsulate the relationship we all have with our best friends, and serve as a reminder that no matter what happens to you, your friends will always keep you going. Life is tricky, but as long as you have an Amy or a Molly by your side, you're gonna be just fine. 

Much Ado About Nothing: Shakespeare Comes to Georgia

When I saw Much Ado About Nothing at the Delacorte Theater five years ago, it was a very classic production and very lovely. Now five years later, The Public Theater has brought this tale back to the Delacorte as part of the annual Shakespeare in the Park line-up, but there is nothing classic about this production. The first thing I noticed upon taking my seat was a brick house on the stage with a large banner that said "Stacey Abrams 2020." Directed by Kenny Leon and featuring an all-black cast, led by Orange Is the New Black's utterly beguiling Danielle Brooks, this production is a riveting delight that serves a social commentary on the issues of our times and yet retains everything that makes this one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies.

I'm not going into the plot of Much Ado About Nothing - you can read up on it on Wikipedia, or better yet, watch this production and experience the play the way it was meant to be experienced and get hooked for life. One of my favorite things about watching Shakespeare performed on stage is that it never gets old. There's always a new interpretation - in this case, setting the play and its characters in Atlanta, Georgia in the near future - and the familiar lines seem to take on a whole new level of meaning depending on the spin that the actors have chosen to place on them. Grantham Coleman plays Benedick alongside Danielle Brooks' Beatrice, and these two Juilliard-trained actors aren't messing around. The famous banter between these characters is somehow elevated into a whole other plain, and I couldn't help but get swept away in it all. And of course, I had to chuckle with the rest of the audience when Beatrice first pronounced his name sarcastically as "Bene...dick." Shakespeare would have been proud.

This play features a great deal of music, with some incredible singing from Brooks and the supporting actors, as well as some rollicking dance numbers that will have you bopping in your seat. Much Ado About Nothing is a strange little play because the Beatrice and Benedick plot is so fiery and funny and yet the subplot with Claudio and Hero (played by Jeremie Harris and Margaret Odette) delves into immense melodrama. In this production, that drama received a great deal of #MeToo subtext, inspiring some whoops from the audience. I always find myself uncomfortable with how it gets resolved (hey, that Shakespeare for you), but Hero managed to get some of her own back in this production. While Beatrice's famous "If I were a man" speech took on so much more poignancy. But oh man, when Beatrice and Benedick realize they are in love? That gets me every time. To me, their love story is the original Pride & Prejudice, and watching their evolution from enemies to lovers in two and a half hours is a very satisfying way to spend a night at the theater.

Shakespeare in the Park is one of the best cultural events New York City has to offer and if you haven't been yet, there's no better way to start than with this production. It embodies the inclusive ethos of the Public Theater and features stunning performances and gorgeous music. There are so many clever bits of physical comedy sprinkled throughout the show that you won't be able to keep your eyes off the stage and the time will simply fly by. So enter the daily ticket lottery or shell out for a membership and hie thee to the Delacorte before June 23.

Long Shot: Love & Politics

There’s been a lot of hype about what a great movie Long Shot is, particularly since we haven’t been treated to a good romcom in ages (in theaters - Netflix is a different story). I went in with somewhat high expectations and while I didn’t think it was the greatest romcom ever (that title will forever belong to While You Were Sleeping), in the words of my friend Katie, "it was cute". So if you feel the need to get out of your house, this movie would be a perfectly entertaining way to spend two hours.

The plot centers around the US Secretary of State, Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), who is announcing her bid to run for President and needs a writer to punch up her speeches so she can come off as more humorous to the electorate. She reconnects with Fred (Seth Rogen) at a party - she used to babysit him when she was in high school and he was an awkward teen, and as they reminisce, she discovers he's a journalist who might be just the kind of speechwriter she needs. Going with her gut, she offers him the job and they're off. Speeches and shenanigans ensue.

The two leads are wonderful, particularly Theron, who commands the screen in every scene she's in and makes it very clear why Charlotte has ascended to one of the highest political offices in the land. At the same time, she easily showcases this character's vulnerable side - yes, she is comfortable walking diplomatic tightropes all day long and serving as the architect of a historic environmental treaty, but she also desperately feels the need to unwind. That's where Seth Rogen comes in, who is perfectly sweet and affable, and charming in his Rogen-esque way. The romance doesn't feel forced in any way - these two have excellent repartee and a particular moment when they dance to Roxette was all I needed to holler for them to declare their love before all the land. But of course, when you're running for President, things aren't that simple.

The supporting characters are also great, particularly June Diane Raphael as Charlotte's key staffer, Maggie. She always pops up in TV cameos or web series like the phenomenal Bachelor spoof, Burning Love, so it was a treat to see her enact her comedy chops on the big screen. Alexander Skarsgard subverts his usual suave style in a ridiculous turn as the hot Canadian Prime Minister, while Bob Odenkirk plays the President with a hilarious backstory that may hit a bit too close to home for our Ukrainian friends. However, being a Rogen-produced comedy, this movie does get a bit baggy in places. There are story arcs and political commentary that feel a bit contrived and unnecessary and the movie could have done with some more judicious editing. However, it does feature a singularly sublime soundtrack, which always wins my favor when I'm on the fence about any film.

Long Shot is a fun film, filled with jokes and romance, and is a worthy entry into the romcom canon. It isn't the best example of the genre, but it is by no means the worst, and it is certainly elevated by a pitch-perfect performance from Charlize Theron who makes this an ode to powerful women everywhere who are trying to get through the business of life. It comes at an interesting time in our current political climate, so you may have feelings depending on your political leanings, but if you put that stuff aside, it's a heartening romance that will leave you humming It Must Have Been Love for a distractingly long time.