Cruella (2021) Review 

After what feels like forever, I finally went back to the cinema today to watch Cruella and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a young woman try to get into the fashion world and become the woman that will become Cruella De Vil. 

Main Character

Emma Stone plays Cruella in the film and I thought she was fantastic, she just seems to be having so much fun in this role and it seems to be a role that was ready made for her and that she was born to play. Some will argue that she isn't exactly the character we know from the previous stories and did we really need a film that tries to make her a sympathetic figure, but Stone really excels at it and rises this film above where it really should be. 

Supporting Characters

Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser play her friends in the film and they are a nice trio to watch on screen with Hauser in particular providing some memorable scenes and laughs which was needed. It is funny that Emma Thompson plays a more typical Cruella De Vil as an antagonist and she is also really good and clearly having a blast as the bad guy and the two Emma's are easily the best part of the film for me. Though, there are a few issues here. Mark Strong is in this film and he does very little, it is kind of like why did they bother getting Strong if they weren't going to give him a more meaty and interesting role. Also Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Anita feels like a part of the film that feels out of place and it isn't really her fault but the character is incredibly bland and it feels she was in this film to try and humanize Cruella and it just doesn't work. 

Story 

The story is fine, Cruella has a decent backstory and it is represented really well on screen. The relationship between Emma Stone and Emma Thompson is really well done and is really entertaining to watch the two of them work together and go head to head on screen. But the film thinks it is really clever with the twists and turns but it comes across as forced and are elements that you can see them coming from a million miles away. No spoilers, but the ending also feels really forced and not earned which is a disappointment when you consider that this is a pretty long film. 

Script 

The script is similar to the plot, in that is is okay but won't be remembered. There are some fun exchanges that goes on between the characters but it feels like that is mainly down to the performers and not the strength of the writing. Also, it is a really predictable film and it is hard to avoid the feeling that you knew what was going to happen in every scene. 

Style 

The film looks really good, for a film that focuses so much on fashion design it was important for the costumes to be well realised and they are fantastic. It is overblown and exciting with an exciting sense of energy to it, which is hurt by one thing and that is the fact that it is way too long. The film is over 2 hours and it feels like this would be a much better film if they cut 10 minutes at least off of it and tightened up the plot. 

Overall

Overall, Cruella is an above average film. Some really good performances mixed with a fun style makes this an entreating watch that is let down by just having too much going on and a film that is just too long. If you like the look of the trailers then go watch Cruella and support your local cinema as they re-open. 

Rating - 6/10