Monday, May 16, 2022

Sneakerella (2022)

 

Streaming Service: Disney+
Movie Name/Year: Sneakerella (2022)
Genre: Comedy, Family, Musical
Length: 1h 52min
Rating: TV-G
Production/Distribution: Disney Channel, Disney+, Jane Startz Productions, Maple Plus Productions
Director: Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum
Writers: David Light, Joseph Raso, George Gore II, Tamara Chestna, Mindy Stern
Actors: Bryan Terrell Clark, Chosen Jacobs, Devyn Nekoda, John Salley, Kolton Stewart, Lexi Underwood, Logan Thompson, Lovina Yavari, Tara Nicodemo, Yvonne Senat Jones, Mif, Juan Chioran, Robyn Alomar, Hayward Leach, Robert J. Tavenor, Keethan Krish,
Levi Dombokah, Mekdes Teshome, Michael Madonis, Navi Dhanoa
 
IMDb Blurb: A modern twist on Cinderella set in New York City's Sneaker culture.

 
Cat’s Point of View:
I’ve got to admit, Sneakerella was better than I thought it would be. I was a bit on the fence when I listed it as my #12 entry on May’s Top 20 list. I’m just not a sneakerhead, and I was a little worried that the story might not fully translate into something other than just ‘cute’ Disney fare.
 
The good news is that I didn’t have to be a subscriber to that cultural niche to get a lot out of this new reimagining of the Cinderella story.

 
We have seen so many iterations of Cinderella over the years. I enjoy most of the ones that I’ve seen. There are some that are simply iconic – much like Disney’s original animated classic from 1950. While a lovely story of rags to riches and triumph over domestic oppression, it sometimes gets a bit worn out.
 
Sneakerella gives the narrative a flip on many levels. I’m not just talking about the excellent hip-hop choreography of the dancers, either.
 
Here, we had a new spin on the essence of the story – it was about a young man finding himself as a shoe designer and saving the legacy of his mom’s shoe store. It wasn’t about anyone looking to get married. Sure, there was a little romance involved, but it was the appropriate interaction level for the characters’ ages. I’m actually head over heels about the pacing of such. I think Disney finally got a clue, and seem to be sticking to Elsa’s advice from Frozen (2013) that “You can’t marry [someone] you just met.”

 
I really liked the spotlight on the Astoria, Queens area, also, and the emphasis on neighborhood and community. I found myself grinning ear to ear as the role of the ‘fairy godmother’ was revealed and worked in with a bit more subtlety than the common interpretations of this story.
 
All of the key elements were present and presented well in conjunction with the film’s messages of diversity, honesty, following dreams, finding your voice, staying true to yourself, and making the choice to take a bold first step.
 
Sure, some elements were a little sappy – but who cares?!

 
I found Sneakerella to be a movie that kids would enjoy and parents won’t roll their eyes watching the first few times. The dancing was cool, the music was catchy, and I had a lot of fun.
 
If you like the premise of Cinderella, it’s worth giving this version a shot. You can find it now on Disney+ included with membership at no additional premium.

 
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 100%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 57%
Metascore – None
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score –4.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5
 
Movie Trailer:

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