Disney’s recent series of live-action reboots have been a mixed bag of failures and successes. For the most part, films like The Lion King (2019), Beauty and the Beast (2017), and The Jungle Book (2016) were almost the exact same as their originals, only without much of the originality and heart that made them so beloved in the first place.

However, not all the remakes have been direct retellings. 2014’s Maleficent brought a new take on the story of Sleeping Beauty by focusing on the villain and creating new aspects to her character. Even 2020’s Mulan changed much of the story from 1998, but the changes made to the story hindered the story far more than helped.

When it was announced that Disney’s next live-action reboot would be Cruella, instead of 101 Dalmatians, it was clear that Disney was trying to recreate their previous success with Maleficent by transitioning the focus to the villain while giving them a more well-rounded and relatable character.

Interestingly, the movie would be unique from the rest of the reboots, as the movie trailers revealed the film would be rated PG-13, as opposed to the usual PG. This would allow the movie to embrace some darker tones than the original had, and keep in mind that Cruella in the original wanted to kill dozens of dogs.

After all the trailers and speculation, the movie finally released simultaneously in theatres and on Disney+ on May 28. The film follows a young Cruella as she pursues a career in fashion, making new friends and enemies on her climb to the top of the fashion world. 

Without giving spoilers, the film features an amazing soundtrack that plays songs from the 60’s and 70’s, with much of the movie taking place during this time period. It also features beautiful costumes, which is to be expected from a movie about a fashion designer. The writing is darker than expected, but still features great heart and humor and is available to anyone with a Disney+ subscription on Aug 27.