Aladdin

Disney’s live-action remake of its 1992 animated classic stars Will Smith as a mariner/storytelling father and as the jovial Genie. In the fabled Middle Eastern kingdom of Agrabah, thieving Aladdin (Mena Massoud)—with his mischievous monkey Abu perched on his shoulder—nimbly lifts dates from a marketplace vendor and steals a bracelet from incognito Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott). Thinking that she is the princess’s handmaiden, Aladdin returns Jasmine’s jewelry. But while they definitely connect, the princess must marry a prince, not a pauper. Enter evil Jafar (Marwan Kenzari), ambitious advisor to the Sultan (Navid Negahban), who dispatches plucky Aladdin to retrieve a magic oil lamp from the Cave of Wonders. In possession of a magic carpet, along with the lamp, Aladdin summons the CGI-enhanced Genie, who explains the concept of the three wishes. Aladdin’s first wish is to become Prince Ali to properly pursue Princess Jasmine with the Genie as his wisecracking wingman. From there on, it’s scrappy fun and games, peppered with the familiar Alan Mencken/Howard Ashman/Tim Rice music, along with the new song “Speechless” in which empowered Jasmine asserts her independence. Writer-director Guy Ritchie doesn’t venture far from Disney’s original animated Arabian Nights fantasy, but while this won’t rank with Disney’s best it is still reasonably entertaining. Recommended. [Note: Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes (12 min.), the production featurettes “Aladdin's Video Journal: A New Fantastic Point of View” (11 min.), “Guy Ritchie: A Cinematic Genie” (6 min.), and “A Friend Like Genie” (5 min.), plus the deleted song “Desert Moon” (2 min.), bloopers (2 min.), and the music videos for “Speechless” by Naomi Scott, “A Whole New World” by ZAYN and Zhavia Ward, and “A Whole New World” (“Un Mundo Ideal”) by ZAYN and Becky G, as well as bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for this engaging live-action remake.] (S. Granger)