‘Cruella’ is a pleasant surprise, delivering a wild, musical ride

Posted on June 4, 2021

By MARK VIOLA

I honestly can’t tell you the last time I watched Disney’s animated “101 Dalmatians.” The movie hit theaters 20 years before I was born, so there’s no telling. I know I saw the 1996 live-action remake starring Glenn Close, but I don’t remember much about that version.

What they both have in common is one of Disney’s most diabolical villains, Cruella de Vil, a woman who wants to skin scores of dogs to make a coat. As such, she’s not the first character that comes to mind when guessing the focus of the next Disney live-action film, but that’s exactly what we get with “Cruella,” which debuted last weekend in movie theaters, as well as on Disney+ (with a $30 extra charge).

I really had no idea what to expect when I sat down in the theater last weekend. I’d only seen the first trailer, which showcased the film’s 1960s/70s setting and its focus on the London fashion scene of that era. Beyond that, I really didn’t have a clue what I was getting myself into.

Fortunately, “Cruella” is a surprisingly fun movie, filled with great visuals, wonderful costumes, one of the best soundtracks since “Guardians of the Galaxy” and a scenery-chewing lead performance from Emma Stone (“La La Land”) in the title role.

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