Critical Reception and initial Reactions

Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of “Snow White” is already facing a blizzard of criticism even before its official release. Initial reviews are lukewarm at best, with the film currently holding a 47% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 101 reviews.This puts it near the bottom of the barrel when compared to other Disney live-action remakes.

The lukewarm reception hasn’t been helped by what some perceive as a muted promotional strategy. Disney scaled back the film’s premiere, limiting the number of photographers and interviewers, raising eyebrows and fueling speculation that the studio is trying to minimize exposure due to the controversies surrounding the film. As Variety reported last week, this approach contrasts sharply with the typically lavish red-carpet events Disney throws for its major releases.

Dueling Criticisms: Visuals, story, and Performances

The Negative Reviews

Many critics are unimpressed with the film’s visuals, arguing that it fails to capture the magic of the original animated classic. Adam Nayman, a critic for the Toronto Star, didn’t hold back, calling the film a “bad idea and worse movie” in a scathing one-star review. He argues that “spending $250 million to make a film in which absolutely nothing works is a kind of dark art in and of itself.” Nayman specifically targeted Gal Gadot’s performance as the Evil Queen, branding it a “disaster” due to a perceived lack of “self-awareness” or “campy pleasure.”

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian echoed these sentiments, labeling the film “exhaustingly awful” in his own one-star review. He criticized the performances of both leads as “the dullest of their lives” and took issue with the film’s “pseudo-progressive” portrayal of the seven dwarves as CGI-animated figures.

Rolling Stone’s david Fear also took aim at the film’s handling of the dwarves, calling Disney’s approach “cringeworthy.” He noted that the characters are referred to as “magical creatures” in the movie, suggesting a clumsy attempt to avoid outdated stereotypes. Fear argues that the film “pats itself on the back for being so performatively progressive,” implying that the changes are superficial and lack genuine substance.

A More Positive Spin?

Despite the predominantly negative reviews, some critics have offered a slightly more positive outlook.

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman praised both Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, while also suggesting that the CGI dwarves “bring the movie to life.” David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter placed the film on the “upper end of the spectrum” of disney’s live-action remakes, commending the actors’ performances and the visual effects team for crafting an “enchanting story-book world.” however,these voices seem to be in the minority.

The Diversity Debate: Casting and Representation

Snow White’s Ethnicity

The casting of Rachel Zegler, a Latina actress, as Snow White has been a major point of contention. Some critics have argued that this choice deviates too far from the source material, the Brothers Grimm fairytale, which describes Snow White as having “skin as white as snow.” This argument reflects a broader debate about fidelity to original stories versus the desire for more inclusive representation in modern media.

zegler herself has defended her casting, emphasizing the popularity of “Snow White” in spanish-speaking countries and expressing pride in representing her heritage. In a 2022 interview, she stated, “I get to be a Latina princess.” More recently, in 2024, she told Variety that the character’s name will be explained by a childhood experience where she survived a snowstorm.

The Dwarves: A Minefield of Representation

The portrayal of the seven dwarves has proven to be an even more sensitive issue. Peter Dinklage, the celebrated actor with dwarfism known for his role in “Game of Thrones,” publicly criticized Disney for remaking “Snow White” while retaining the dwarves characters. He questioned the studio’s seemingly contradictory stance, celebrating Zegler’s casting while perpetuating what he considers a “f—ing backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together?” Dinklage’s comments sparked a wider conversation about the representation of people with dwarfism in film and television.

Disney responded to Dinklage’s concerns by stating that it was consulting with the dwarfism community to “avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film.” However, subsequent developments have only fueled further controversy.

In 2023, leaked footage from the production revealed that only one of the seven dwarves was portrayed by an actor with dwarfism, while the others were played by actors of different races. This casting decision drew criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.

right-wing commentators like Megyn Kelly criticized the film for being overly “racialized” and for seemingly prioritizing every “box” except those related to dwarfism. Meanwhile, some members of the dwarfism community also expressed disappointment, arguing that the decision denied opportunities to actors with dwarfism.

Here’s a fast breakdown of the key players and their positions: