Rachel Zegler shines as 'Disney’s Snow White' in underwhelming remake

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was Disney’s crowning achievement when it was released in 1937. It was the first feature-length animation in Hollywood and became the highest-grossing film of that year. Its impact on the animation industry cannot be overstated — so much so that Walt Disney received an honorary Oscar along with seven miniature statuettes as a nod to the dwarfs.

For a film that helped establish Disney as the media empire it is today, how the 2025 remake has been handled 88 years later strikes a frustratingly different tone. Multiple controversies have made Disney tread carefully as the film rolls out in cinemas worldwide, including in the Philippines yesterday.

For those in need of a refresher, the classic story follows a princess who flees into the woods to escape the Evil Queen, finding refuge with seven dwarfs. Enraged that Snow White is still alive, her evil stepmother disguises herself as an old woman and gives her a poisoned apple, putting her into an eternal sleep that can only be broken by a true love's kiss.

Whether or not viewers agree with the casting of Rachel Zegler and her criticisms of the original film, it’s safe to say that she is far from this remake’s biggest problem. In fact, she is actually its brightest spot, embodying the regal Disney princess aura the role requires, paired with a powerful singing voice.

Her performance of “Waiting on a Wish” —an original song composed for the film —stands out as a more memorable tune than the forgettable soundtrack of Moana 2, released just a few months ago.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given Zegler’s performances in “West Side Story” and “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”, which already showcased her immense potential.

But a strong lead performance does not compensate for weak characterization, and the film struggles between being a faithful adaptation of the 1937 classic and a modernized take on the fairy tale.

The remake attempts to present a slightly more empowered and optimistic Snow White — one who is brave enough to stand up against the fascist rule of the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot) much earlier in the story and does not require a prince to motivate her. However, the film portrays her goodwill as naive, making her come across as too virtuous — even for a morally upright Disney princess.

Another weak link is the lack of chemistry between Zegler and Andrew Burnap, who plays Jonathan — a bandit and Snow White’s love interest, replacing the original royal. Their relationship lacks interesting development, making it difficult for audiences to root for them as a couple.

In contrast, the 2023 remake of “The Little Mermaid” successfully balanced faithfulness to the original while incorporating modern sensibilities, updating Ariel into an adventurer who shares a mutual curiosity with Prince Eric that was backed with strong chemistry between Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King.

This remake of Snow White, however, stru ggles to define its message for a modern audience expecting more compelling female characters paired with an equally interesting male lead.

For a re-telling seemingly trying to avoid controversy, Snow White only creates more with its handling of the dwarfs. Disney chose to create CGI versions of the seven dwarfs, voiced by able-bodied actors, rather than casting real dwarf actors — a decision that has sparked criticism.

Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen

This came after Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage called out the original story’s “backward” depiction of dwarfs, prompting Disney to promise a “different approach.”

Yet the final product still features the same Dopey, Bashful, Grumpy, Sneezy, Happy, Doc, and Sleepy as before. If Disney was going to stick with its traditional depiction, they could have cast dwarf actors —especially given that some in the community criticized Dinklage’s remarks for potentially costing them opportunities to appear in a major Disney film.

But the film’s Achilles’ heel is Gadot’s monotonous performance as the Evil Queen. Her delivery feels stagnant and uninspired, failing to capture the menacing presence needed for the role.

To add insult to injury, she is given not one but two musical numbers that showcase how she is clearly not a professional singer. Beyond the vocal limitations, these numbers are so corny that they make the Evil Queen look more like a joke than a genuine threat.

Some might argue that the musical approach to the Evil Queen was meant to be campy, but the film takes itself too seriously for this interpretation to work. If camp was the intended direction, it clashes with the otherwise grounded aesthetic —just like how Snow White’s signature blue, red, and yellow dress and hairstyle feel out of place against the muted, earthy-toned environment.

The uninspired direction from Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man films, 500 Days of Summer) further weakens the film. Unlike directors such as Guy Ritchie (Aladdin), Kenneth Branagh (Cinderella), or Rob Marshall (The Little Mermaid), who understood what made the original films iconic while adding their own spin, Webb appears to be merely following the producers’ instructions.

Erin Cressida Wilson’s underdeveloped screenplay leaves cinephiles wondering what could have been if Greta Gerwig —originally attached as the screenwriter —had played a larger role in the film’s production. Instead, Gerwig is merely credited for “additional literary material,” alongside five other screenwriters whose names don’t even appear onscreen.

Gerwig’s die-hard fans might catch crumbs of her vision in the final product. One can only wonder what her interpretation of the Disney princess would have looked like, especially given how she successfully brought the larger-than-life concept of “Barbie” to life on the big screen. Fortunately, she has since moved on to helm the Narnia adaptations for Netflix and IMAX, where she will have more creative autonomy as its director and writer.

“Snow White” was supposed to be a celebration of Disney’s legacy, given the original film’s monumental impact. Instead, the remake feels like an underwhelming opportunity marred by questionable casting, uninspired creative choices, shallow characterization, and lackluster direction that makes this one of the weaker Disney live-action remakes. Despite her polarizing reputation, Zegler is the only reason this film is even remotely watchable. Two stars out of five.