Aladdin (2019)

 

Aladdin - 2019

Coming up next is 2019's "Aladdin", a live-action remake of the 1992's original animated Disney classic.  In this tale, a young man living on the street makes the acquaintance of an undercover princess, a genie, and a magic carpet as he begins an adventure that will take him to "a whole new world".

The film's cast includes Mena Massoud, Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, and Alan Tudyk.

At the beginning of our story we meet Aladdin and his monkey Abu.  In the 

marketplace, they meet an undercover Princess Jasmine, who has run away from the palace.  Aladdin teaches her how to stay "One Jump Ahead" and survive the streets of Agrabah.

We also are introduced to Jafar, the Vizier of Agrabah, who will stop at nothing to get a treasure that he wants.

After their adventure on the streets, Aladdin takes Jasmine back to his place, where she gets to see Agrabah from a different perspective than she's used to.

Jasmine introduces herself as "Dahlia", a handmaid to the princess.  She and Aladdin have a real connection, but it is interrupted when a visiting prince on his way to the palace brings Jasmine back to reality.

She's tired of putting on a show for visiting princes (like Prince Anders) who are only interested in what her kingdom can offer them.

Her real ambition is to rule Agrabah after her father as Sultan.  She is firmly put in her place by Jafar.  But Jasmine resolves that she won't be silent and won't go "speechless".

While sneaking into the palace to visit "Dahlia", Aladdin is arrested by Jafar's men.  Jafar reveals to him that "Dahlia" is in fact the princess.  If Aladdin will do a certain task for him, Jafar will reward him with riches enough to impress her.

Aladdin is tasked with retrieving a magic lamp from the Cave of Wonders, but he is given strict instructions not to touch anything else.  Unfortunately, Abu doesn't heed that warning.

Because Abu touched the forbidden treasure, they are sealed inside the cave, where they meet a magic carpet and a genie who resides inside the lamp.

The genie tells him how the lamp works with the song "Friend Like Me".  Aladdin gets three wishes, but can't wish to make anyone fall in love or bring somebody back from the dead.

Once they are out of the cave, Aladdin tells the genie that he wishes to become a prince so that he can marry Princess Jasmine, who can only wed a prince.

The genie works his magic and "Prince Ali" of Ababwa is born!  His entourage makes its way through the streets of Agrabah to much fanfare.

After failing to impress Jasmine at their first official meeting, he later makes it up to her by introducing her to "A Whole New World".  Afterwards, Jasmine makes a connection between Prince Ali and Aladdin, which he is quick to deny.

One of the most charming things about this movie is the awkward/endearing relationship between the genie and Jasmine's handmaid Dahlia.  It's so fun to watch them interact.

As the story goes, we know that Jafar gains control of the lamp and exposes Prince Ali as Aladdin.  He also takes control of Agrabah by becoming its sultan and also a sorcerer.

Jasmine is given a chance to shine and prove what kind of leader she would be should she become Sultan of Agrabah.

Aladdin tricks Jafar into becoming a genie.  Wanting the power, Jafar jumps at the opportunity, not realizing that it means being confined to a lamp, which Genie deposits safely in the Cave of Wonders.

Genie is set free by Aladdin's final wish, and he and Jasmine (who has been deemed the next sultan by her father) are able to get married.  Genie and Dahlia get together, too.

Cast rundown:

   Mena Massoud..........................Aladdin

   Will Smith.................................Genie

   Naomi Scott..............................Princess Jasmine

   Marwan Kenzari.........................Jafar

   Navid Negahban........................Sultan of Agrabah

   Nasim Pedrad............................Dahlia

   Billy Magnussen.........................Prince Anders

   Alan Tudyk................................Iago

And that's it for Aladdin.  Will Smith wanted to bring a hip-hop flavor to his role as the Genie, but he was also very respectful to the work done by the late Robin Williams.  I think he's very successful in making Genie his own.  His rendition of the character is unique enough to be instantly recognizable but appropriately different.  Just a bit of trivia for you: the name of Princess Jasmine in the original Arab tale "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" was Badroulbadour.

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