Cruella: Two Emmas for the Price of One

Well, after 14 long months, I finally set foot in a movie theater. And I kicked things off with Cruella. Emma Stone and Emma Thompson going head-to-head in an array of sumptuous costumes? What a perfect welcome back to the cinema.

There was a moment when I was watching Cruella that I realized some parallels could be drawn to Joker. After all, this is a villain's origin story that is very sympathetic to the villain. But let the comparisons end there. Because this movie is a gorgeous, fun feast for the senses. I did find myself desperately trying to remember anything about 101 Dalmatians, because there were clearly a lot of references being made to the original source material that went way over my head. But eventually I gave up the struggle and just enjoyed this movie on its own terms. 

Emma Stone stars as Cruella, who we all know as the woman who wanted to make a coat out of a bunch of Dalmatians. But in this film, we first meet the young girl, soon to be orphaned (I would say "spoiler alert" but this is a Disney movie after all - being orphaned at an early age is almost mandatory). Her name is actually Estella, but her mother calls her Cruella when her naughty streak comes out. After her mother dies, we see how the young Estella gets to London, meets two young thieves, and re-establishes herself as a grifter, all while harboring dreams of being a fashion designer. As luck would have it, she gets a big break working for Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson), who is essentially Miranda Priestly on steroids (unsurprising as the original script for this movie was written by Aline Brosh McKenna, who wrote The Devil Wears Prada).  And that burgeoning mentor-mentee relationship quickly morphs into something far darker.

The final screenplay by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara is chock-full of plot but not too convoluted. There are twists and turns but even if you're not paying attention, it's so jaw-droppingly beautiful that you won't be able to look away. Costume designer Jenny Beavan, who has already won two Oscars, goes all out, designing fashionable haute couture for the Baroness, and a more progressive punk rock aesthetic for Cruella. This movie is set in the 1970s and has a soundtrack to match, with every iconic anthem from that time period let loose on your eardrums. I can't imagine what the music budget was for this film, but I imagine Disney could afford it to further elevate this movie as a complete audiovisual assault on the senses.

In summary, Cruella is a fantastic summer treat. It's a live-action Disney movie so you know exactly what you're getting. Light and fizzy, nothing too traumatic, aesthetically firing on all cylinders with two incredible actresses guiding you along the way. It's a perfect way to return to the cinema if that is something you are contemplating, but even at home on Disney+ it would be an entertaining ride to satisfy your summer blockbuster cravings. Like lemonade on a hot day, it's sweet, tart, and refreshing. Drink up.