'Aladdin', starring Will Smith, Mena Massoud and others, hit the screens this Friday in Telugu and other languages.  Here is our review of the American musical fantasy.

Story:

The film is set in a fantasy world.  A small-time thief named Aladdin (played by Mena Massoud) accidentally bumps into the princess (played by Naomi Scott) of a kingdom and falls in love with her.  He has as his company a loyal monkey.

As fate would have it, the thief ends up meeting the kingdom's traitor, who asks of him to bring a lamp from a besieged fortress.  When the thief braves everything to lay his hands on the lamp, a Genie (Will Smith) is released.

This is when his life undergoes a transformation.  The Genie grants him three wishes.  What are those wishes and how do they change the destinies of the thief, the heroine, her kingdom, and, finally, the Genie himself?  That's the rest of the story.

Analysis:

'Aladdin' lives up to its description of a musical fantasy.  Directed by Guy Ritchie, it has situational songs, some of which are not too alien for the Indian audience.  The film also offers a range of fantastical elements that can give the children out there many 'paisaa vasool' moments.

Once the Genie is introduced, it's VFX galore.  Those shifting shapes, the many externalities, the finesse of the visuals - everything is a visual feast.  There is even a fanciful song moments after the Genie is introduced.  

One of the best cinematic experiences has to be the song that follows when Aladdin (the thief) becomes a king.  The visuals are spectacular and even Bollywoodish.  

The comic situations between the Genie and Aladdin also have a dose of Indian nativity.

It helps that our own 'Victory' Venkatesh has dubbed for the Genie.  It makes the character all the more endearing to the Telugu audience.  The thief's character gets dubbed by Varun Tej, whose voice is completely unrecognizable in the film.  The 'F2' stars get to indulge in a reference to 'Venky Asana' (believe it or not)!  

Those of you who have always been buffs of Hollywood movies may not find this product a wholesome offering.  The old-world setting of the film could be a turn-off.  

The love track between Aladdin and the Princess is not really enticing.  The climax does offer some engaging moments but only so much can be said about it.

The film is a remake of the animated film 'Aladdin' (1992).  Critics have it that the new live action version has dialogues that are too predictable for those who have watched the animated version.  

As for performances, Will Smith is appealing and others too are good.  Alan Menken's music, Alan Stewart's cinematography and the screenplay (by John August and Guy Ritchie) is largely okayish.

Verdict:

'Aladdin' is a visual feast that can have your child going gaga over it.  A decently-written and executed remake, it has on offer several fun moments.