It’s pretty clear after watching the new live-
action “Aladdin” that doubts about Will Smith’s
casting as the Genie are overblown. It’s the guy
behind the camera who should be doubted.
And stuffed into a small lamp forever.
Guy Ritchie — that lover of gritty gangsters and
violent action — was always an odd choice to
helm a big Disney romantic musical and proves
utterly the wrong guy here. ”Aladdin ,” in his
hands, is more like “The Mummy” than “Frozen.”
This is an “Aladdin” with a torture scene and
pointlessly artful fast-slow-motion action scenes.
Going into it, Smith was the question mark.
How can you possibly have a real actor play the
shape-shifting, manic spirit that Robin Williams
so wonderfully voiced in the animated film?
Smith struggles at first before perhaps listening
to his own character’s advice: Be yourself.