KSL Movie Show review: ‘Snow White’ is delightedly heartfelt and stays true to beloved original

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SALT LAKE CITY — There’s something to be said about “lowered expectations” when it comes to reviewing movies, in that it usually has a positive effect on the outcome.
Never has that been more apparent than with ‘Snow White.’

I was not looking forward to mushing through a snowstorm on Tuesday night, to see what some were calling a disaster in the making. She said this. He said that. Tensions developed. You’d think we were about to see a live-action rendition of the Hindenburg blimp explosion. “Oh, the humanity!” – would be the nightmarish call.

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Oh contraire, mon fraire.

Despite my folded arms in defiance, daring this updated Disney classic to entertain me, turns out – it did. What? How is that possible?

“Snow White” offers an entertaining update

Well, as luck would have it, the script was nicely adapted to anticipate a young woman’s dream of becoming an exceptional leader of her people, rather than have her pining away for “some day my prince will come” like some desperate debutante. Don’t get me wrong. Great song; just old idea.

And speaking of songs, they’ve added new ones. Sacrilege!

Don’t panic. You’ll still get Heigh-hoed and be able to whistle while you work, but now the team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul have included “Good Things Grow” and “Waiting on a Wish,” tunes which I believe will become classics in and of themselves.

So, what about the story?

Actually, it’s surprisingly similar with one notable difference from the Prince in the 1937 animated classic, he’s now Jonathan (Andrew Burnap) a rogue, rebel leader of the forest bandits, who openly opposes the cruelty of the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot) by stealing food from her overflowing pantry to feed the less fortunate. He’s more like a “Robin Hood” rather than a prince. Also the dismissal of the Evil Queen involves the Magic Mirror this time around, rather than the “incident” in the animated tale.

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Side note: the original Magic Mirror was deep-voiced by Moroni Olsen, an Ogden native and acclaimed actor, whereas the new Magic Mirror features Patrick Page who spent six seasons with the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City and appeared often in the off-season at Pioneer Theatre Company in SLC. He most recently played Jacob Marley in the Ryan Reynolds/Will Ferrell version of A Christmas Carol called “Spirited.” Oh, what a voice!

What about the issues? – Latina Rachel Zegler is not a problem for me. Her incredible voice is the reason she was chosen for this role, not to try to tick off anybody. The complaint about the CGI dwarfs may be valid, but it was not a distraction in the movie unless you’re haunted by the notion that Dopey looks just like Alfred E. Neuman from MAD magazine.

However, he was the most charming character, so he and his pals should get a pass.

The bottom line – the themes of fearless, fair, brave and true, as engraved on her necklace, were front and center in this delightfully heartfelt musical that in no way detracts or disrespects one of the greatest animated tales of all time. They both can and should exist. I hope and think you will be equally charmed if you give THIS Snow White a chance.

SNOW WHITE (B+) Rated PG for violence, some peril, thematic elements and brief rude humor. Starring Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, Andrew Burnap, Ansu Kabia and Patrick Page. Directed by Marc Webb (“The Amazing Spider-Man 1 & 2” “500 Days of Summer”) – filmed at Pinewood Studios in the UK. Running time: 109 minutes.

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.