Early “Cruella” positive reviews have been praises for Emma Stone and Emma Thompson for their performances in the 2021 film. However, there are many critics who fault the story.
One Twitter user praised Emma Stone for managing to make Cruella’s character more realistic and even emotional. They wrote:
Y’all #Cruella was truly the best movie of 2021 so far!!! The hype is real! And I really believe that this role is in contention for Emma Stone’s best role yet which is saying a LOT. The way she is able to ground such an over the top character in realism and emotion. Loved it sm! pic.twitter.com/3aShlFkNC3
— Wesley | KRISTEN STEWART FOR BEST ACTRESS (@itswessums) May 28, 2021
Also, her costume and style throughout the film got commendations as well. Although, the right person to praise for this will be costume designer Jenny Beavan. Regardless, Emma Stone wore the clothes to perfection and she likely deserves some of the praise as well.
Opposite Stone is Emma Thompson, playing the Baroness. Here is what a film buff says about her performance:
#Cruella Review: Emma Stone is phenomenal as Cruella De Vil!
Emma Thompson is fantastic as
The Baroness! Cruella is basically Joker meets The Devil Wears Prada! The cinematography here is amazing! Cruella is the best Disney Villain movie! Cruella is a fashion masterpiece! 10/10! pic.twitter.com/bKtW9zXvYa— Josh ?? The Batman & Turning Red #BlackLivesMatter (@supermangeek101) May 29, 2021
Ashley Carter, a digital journalist also said or both actresses:
Here's the thing about #Cruella. I was ready to write this movie off, but you know what, it was a good time. The story is ridiculous and over the top, but it somehow works. Emma Thompson is fabulous. Emma Stone is fantastic. And the fashion and aesthetics are a visual treat. pic.twitter.com/lrwfbAAAdv
— Ashley Carter (@AshleyLCarter1) May 28, 2021
Tom Warren, a senior editor at tech blog The Verge, also praise both actresses, “Cruella was fantastic. Emma Stone and Emma Thompson both nailed their characters,” he tweeted.
Not all the reviews about “Cruella” has been good and the negative ones have nothing against both actresses but instead target the story.
Here is what Writer and Co-Executive Producer of “Desus & Mero”, Josh Gondelman, had to say about the film:
The plot of "Cruella" looks so ridiculous. It completely undermines the gritty and nuanced realism of the original "101 Dalmations."
— Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) May 29, 2021
Other negative criticisms that the film got was also centred around the narrative that Dalmatians killed Estella/Cruella’s mother making her turn evil. “Her name is literally Cruella, she doesn’t need some backstory like that,” another Twitter user wrote.
It appears that Aline Brosh McKenna, Kelly Marcel, and Steve Zissis outdid themselves when writing the film’s story. In trying to ‘flesh out’ and ‘humanise’ the villain, they completely veered off course from the original material. Still, you cannot judge the film based on one scene and online takes. Go watch it yourself and form an opinion (or two).
You may also like to read our recent article “A Quiet Place Part II”, “Lucifer Season 5” and other films/TV series to watch this weekend.
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