Snow White Review: A ‘Fair’ Adaptation That Misses the Magic

by Tom March 21, 2025

With Disney’s 2025 remake of “Snow White”, the notion of the term ‘fair’ is the key throughline for its adaptation. The film tries to adapt the beloved original plot to fit modern sensibilities, while still satisfying audiences’ nostalgia and affection for the iconic 1937 Disney film. With updated elements and criticisms addressed, the question remains – will the film be considered fair enough by its audiences?

Snow White Review: A ‘Fair’ Adaptation That Misses the Magic

– The 2025 live-action remake of Disney’s first animated feature, Snow White, attempts to modernize elements while maintaining respect for the original, challenging the traditional “damsel in distress” narrative by highlighting and encouraging qualities such as bravery and fairness in Snow White.
– Key elements of the original remain, including the magic mirror and the evil queen’s transformation, while criticisms of the portrayal of the dwarfs in the past lead to computer-generated images in this version, that are less expressive and impactful.
– The film tackles criticisms of Snow White’s passivity toward her prince, transforming him into a Robin-Hood-like character that steals from the rich and is saved by Snow White herself at first, thus attempting a more mutual relationship.

The 2025 version of Disney’s “Snow White” live-action remake attempts to grapple with the complexities of a story written over 200 years ago by the Grimm brothers and animated almost 90 years ago by Disney. The issues presented by the narrative, including a passive princess awaiting her prince and being awakened by a non-consensual kiss, could be problematic for even the least socially-conscious viewers. However, a reverence for the original still exists and audiences will be looking forward to seeing a faithful reiteration of the classic elements.

The movie attempts to reconcile these issues by creating a more nuanced definition of ‘fairness’, a key component in every “Snow White” version, such as, “Mirror Mirror” and “Sydney White”. In this narrative, ‘fairness’ is a central part of Snow White’s character. The magic mirror, another staple of the story, features a similar design to Disney’s 1937 version and is voiced effectively by Patrick Page.

The film also addresses criticism about the dwarfs’ portrayal in the original by choosing CGI representation. However, their depiction and contributions to the story are not as impactful as they could have been. Thankfully, Disney preserves its iconic magic and production design in this edition, and the transformation of the evil queen into the hag remains magical.

Bringing Snow White to life is Rachel Zegler attempting to balance the old and new versions of the character while maintaining her iconic look. Zegler’s Snow White is earnest but ultimately underwhelming, weighed down by the film’s lackluster script and a misguided attempt to modernize the character. While Zegler has a strong singing voice and undeniable screen presence, her portrayal feels disconnected from the warmth and innocence that made the original Snow White so beloved. Instead of embodying a timeless fairy tale heroine, she delivers a performance that often feels forced, as if she’s trying too hard to make the character feel “empowered” rather than simply authentic. Her line delivery lacks the charm and wonder needed to sell the fantasy, and at times, her take on Snow White comes across as indifferent rather than inspiring. In an attempt to reinvent the character for modern audiences, the film drains her of the sincerity and joy that made her iconic in the first place, leaving behind a Snow White who feels more like a disaffected Disney princess than a truly enchanting lead.

Conversely, Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen is as visually striking as it is disappointingly hollow. While she certainly looks the part, exuding regal menace in elaborate costumes, her portrayal lacks the depth and nuance that make Disney villains so memorable. Rather than embodying the Queen’s iconic blend of vanity, cruelty, and theatrical wickedness, Gadot delivers a performance that feels more like a runway model playing dress-up than a truly menacing antagonist. Her line delivery often comes across as flat, failing to capture the deliciously sinister charm that made past versions of the character so compelling. Instead of a captivating villain, we get a stiff, overly rehearsed performance, and ultimately forgettable, proving that a menacing glare and high cheekbones alone don’t make for a great Disney villain.

The film does incorporate classic songs from the original while introducing some new additions. However, it lacks the charm of the originals and the memorable and revealing songs of previous Disney villain characters.

The live-action remake of Snow White attempts to balance addressing the complex issues of the original narrative and recreating the classic elements loved by audiences. But in the quest to modernize Snow White, Disney forgot one crucial ingredient—magic. This remake may have ditched the damsel in distress, but it also lost charm, heart, and, ironically, any real sense of happily ever after.