This film was one of the most talked about films of 2021, and honestly - despite being die hard fan of the 1996 film 101 Dalmations - I can see why. It's not perfect, but it's full to the brim with a fabulous cast playing devilish characters. For me, that's exactly what a film based losely on the devious central villain from one of my favourite films as a kid should be. With Emma Stone and Emma Thomspon (two absolute powerhouse actors playing two stunningly badass, if slightly unhinged, characters) going head to head for the majority of the movie, I always knew it would be a winner.
Choosing a place to start this review is tricky if I'm honest. The fashion. The set. The power battle. THE FASHION. There's so much in this movie that I utterly loved. Most importantly, of course, there are MULTIPLE cute dogs in this film - a high priority for me on a slow and sad winter's day. Not only that, but the cute dogs play a core role in the central plot; what a treasure. I would even go as far as to say that the success of the film rests on the shoulders of its furry-legged (mischevious) friends, but maybe that's just me. I found myself constantly reminded that if I had the choice I would love to take home a cute stray puppy that I found on the street...
Lots of Cruella explores the traditional tropes of a heist movie. However, unlike 101 Dalmations where the 'goodies' are trying to rescue their innocent dalmation puppies from the 'baddie' Cruella DeVille, here both the role of thief and victim are quite blurred. The stolen item is not an adorable black and white spotted puppy but an heirloom that belongs to the queen of fashion herself, the Baroness (Emma Thompson). That being the case, you think that you kind of know the drill, right? Well... sort of. Now, hold on to this explanation, it does make sense it's just complicated.
It turns out that the heirloom was stolen from Cruella's mother at the start of the movie: that's why Cruella wants to steal it back. But then it also transpires that Cruella's mother stole it from the Baroness to begin with, so actually Cruella is stealing back a stolen heirloom. But then we find out (SPOILER) that Cruella is the Baroness' daughter anyway... So she's stealing back something that her mother stole from her real mother but that was actually hers by birthright anyway... Confused yet? Yeah, I get it. It's actually a great story in practice, it just looks complex when I write it down like that for the dramatics.
To be honest, the plot of the film is a little confusing and if you're not paying attention it's probably easy to lose track of where you are. But, in a lot of ways, the story is also somehow quite simple. Perhaps that's to cater to a wide audience - the film is currently on Disney+ and is rated a PG-13. The aesthetics of the film and the brash bad*ssery of the characters carry through a complicated plotline so incredibly well. And that's coming somebody who doesn't really have the attention span for a 2hr+ movie anymore. Also, did I mention the fashion? The styling of the characters in this film is absolutely tip-top, and part of the fun of it is watching the reimagination of Cruella as, honestly, a stylish baddie.
Maybe it was interesting for me to compare this to the film I know and loved so much as a child, but I genuinely think this movie is a good one to snuggle up and settle in for. If I watch it again, I might have to bring a sketchbook to steal some of those outrageous outfit designs. Hold out for my fashion in film section of this site which will be coming soon because I just can't help myself...
Until next time,
Alice xoxo
(watch Cruella on Disney+, available at the time of writing)
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