Cruella (2021)

Directed by: Craig Gillespie | 134 minutes | comedy, crime | Actors: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Water Hauser, John McCrea, Emily Beecham, Mark Strong, Kayvan Novak, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Jamie Demetriou, Niamh Lynch, Andrew Leung, Ed Birch

‘Cruella’ tells the story of one of Disney’s best-known and most appealing villains: Cruella De Vil, the fashion-forward but thoroughly mean woman, who has her heart set on a fur coat made from the fur of dalmatian puppies. As with Maleficent in her 2014 film of the same name, this production gives the viewer an explanation of how the villain became who she is. And then it turns out… it’s not all so black and white…

When she is still young, Cruella is called Estella. Lovingly raised by her single mother Catherine, the girl really tries to follow her mother’s wise advice. But despite her good intentions, Estella keeps getting into trouble. So much so that she is expelled from school, pardon me, taken by Catherine. This hardworking seamstress has long realized that London is the place to be for her daughter, who loves fashion just like her. They’ll probably get another chance in London. But that’s different.

After a horrible accident, of which Estella blames herself, the teenage girl ends up alone – but with her dog Buddy – in the big city. It doesn’t take long before she meets Horace and Jasper, two peers. Estella’s fantasy and her design talent are a good addition to the duo, who earn their livelihood through pickpocketing. The juvenile criminals are plotting increasingly ingenious and successful thefts. In the years that follow, Estella, Jasper and Horace are inseparable.

We are now in the 1970s. For her 25th birthday, Jasper arranges a job for Estella (Emma Stone) at Liberty, a prestigious fashion department store. Is this the moment she’s been waiting for? Can she use her creativity here? Estella soon learns a hard lesson, but as a well-known cliché goes: when a door closes, a window opens and so Estella ends up with fashion queen The Baroness (Emma Thompson), because she does recognize Estella’s talent. But then Estella makes a shocking discovery…

‘Cruella’ is a perfect mix of action, drama, humor and crime. The origin story is very strong and the pace is high. As you would expect from a movie set in the fashion world, the costumes, make up and haircuts are amazing, each one more beautiful than the next, with one stunner that you will no doubt recognize the moment you see it. The great thing about the designs is that they actually add something to the story. They are not just visual splendor, they are an integral part of Cruella’s history. Get those Oscars ready!

The music also plays a prominent role. From classics like Five to One by The Doors to Blondie’s One Way or Another, each song fits in perfectly with the images and irrevocably transports you to the seventies atmosphere. Then the cast: Emma Stone is fantastic as both Estella and Cruella and turns the character, who really gets what she deserves after her horrific actions in the Disney classic, a broken human being. Of course her choices are not acceptable, but you get more understanding for it. Emma Thompson delights in her portrayal of the bitchy fashion queen who is long past her sell-by date, but believes she can last for years to come by surrounding herself with talented people. Where the two Emmas can be seen together, the film crackles with energy. The two opposites almost cause a chemical reaction. In the supporting roles, Paul Walter Hauser (Horace) and Joel Fry (Jasper) stand out in a positive way. They are perfectly cast and every scene they are in is a hit.

The at times quite dark ‘Cruella’ is a visual spectacle, which never loses sight of the core: the relationship between Estella, Jasper and Horace forms the beating heart. It’s a joy to watch the little girl with the bizarre black and white hair grow up to be the savvy Cruella. The calculated Baroness has a large share in this and this keeps the film perfectly balanced. Enjoy this layered origin story to the fullest.