Origin stories are tough to get right. It’s easy for them to be contrived since there is no peril for someone whose future is foretold. A good one needs to get us to the same destination with twists and turns no one saw coming or by subtly reinventing the character to keep them fresh while also familiar. This is what Cruella does beautifully and is not only incredibly fun but also one of the best films of the year.
Orphaned at a young age, Estella (Emma Stone) escapes to 70s London and makes her living working various cons with her roommates and fellow grifters Jasper and Horace (Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser, respectively). Fashion has always been her lifelong passion, and she constantly longs for more than just petty crime. She finds an avenue for her creativity once she is discovered by the ruthless Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson) who takes Estella under her wing and gives her a chance to make her name. Things devolve as Hellman’s past and secrets intertwine with Estella’s who then decides to take it upon herself to bring down the Baroness. Estella dons her alter ego/personality, Cruella, and begins a guerilla fashion war to overtake Hellman’s crown as THE face of fashion.
While this tells the story of how Cruella became a beloved villain, it is also quite obviously Disney’s take on The Devil Wears Prada. It’s hinted at in the trailers, but it was surprising how much of the movie revolves around the fashion industry and those in it. Thompson’s Hellman is almost as iconic as Streep’s Priestly, however it’s not as subtle since she chews through scenery with reckless abandon. Not to be outdone, Stone’s Cruella brilliantly teeters on the verge of revenge and insanity, and the two of them are perfect foils for each other.
This isn’t for kids, however. It’s for the adults who go to Disneyland and spend beaucoup bucks on merchandise at the Disney Villains store, and it’s a love letter to those who have found an affinity for the character and want to know more. Cruella isn’t so much diabolical as slightly evil, and it’s just as easy to empathize with many of her decisions as to deride the others. She’s not the heartless monster that we met in 101 Dalmatians, but that doesn’t mean she won’t drive her Coupe de Ville down the road into insanity and malevolence. Instead of a cardboard caricature, she is fully fleshed out with understandable motivations and an unexpected character arc.
A few problems do crop up though. A good soundtrack can make or break a film, and the songs chosen for this one are some of the greatest hits of the 70s. However, when a new one pops up every five minutes to remind you this is a period piece, it becomes more like an elbow to the ribs than a subtle wink. Throw in the same problem trying to connect it to the animated classic along with some bad CGI, and it just misses the mark.
Flaws aside, Cruella is extremely entertaining and deeper than it had any reason to be. Characters learn and grow and experience a full story arc that lays new paths for them to travel. $30 to grab it on Disney+ is a bit steep, but for families with kids or people who just aren’t ready to venture into a theater, it’s a relatively cheap night in. Bite the bullet as Cruella delivers, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.