Warning: SPOILERS forSnow WhiteandDisenchanted.
Critics largely agree that theSnow Whiteremake’s Evil Queen is underwhelming, but Disney had a more compelling live-action version of the character in a 3-year-old streaming sequel. Most buzz surrounding Disney’s latest live-action offering is so focused onSnow White’s controversiesthat legitimate criticism often gets overlooked. Gal Gadot’s performance as the Evil Queen is one of the more divisive aspects of the film, with many disliking her performance and her new villain song “All Is Fair.” Meanwhile, her fate inSnow White’s endingleaves room for a sequel that might just not be necessary.
However, Disney did an alternate take on the Evil Queen just a few years ago that outshines Gadot’s villain. Although its plot bears no resemblance toSnow White’s storyand received slightly worse reviews than the recent remake,the Disney+ sequelDisenchantedclearly bases its primary villain’s design on Snow White’s wicked stepmother. But rewatchingDisenchantednow, Malvina Monroe’s likeness toSnow White’s Evil Queen draws a rather unfortunate comparison.
Maya Rudolph’s Disenchanted Villain Was A Better Evil Queen Than Gal Gadot’s In Snow White
She’s A More Active Threat With More Sensible Motivations
Whereas not all of thechanges inSnow Whitewere well-received,Disenchanteduses the Evil Queen as a base model for a villain that actually makes a bit more logical sense than Snow’s stepmother.Snow White’s Evil Queen only ever uses her magic mirror to ask about appearances (with the remake suggesting that’s the only question it can even answer), butMalvina Monroe uses her mirror to seek greater magical powers. This makes her much deadlier as her thirst for power eventually threatens the lives of protagonist Giselle, her stepdaughter Morgan, and literally the entire magical land of Andalasia.
Every Disney Easter Egg & Reference In Disenchanted
Just like the first movie, Disenchanted is full of references to other Disney movies. Take a look at some of the whimsical Easter eggs here.
Because Malvina poses a more significant threat based on more than a simple desire to be beautiful, she makesDisenchanted’s main twist more impactful. Althoughone of the biggest criticisms ofDisenchantedis that Giselle’s transformation into a wicked stepmother ruins her character, her arc nonetheless carries more weight as she seeks to usurp an already powerful queen. This power struggle between two magical villains also leads to arguably one of thebest songs inDisenchanted, as the villain song “Badder” stands out as one of the most thrilling scenes in what otherwise feels like a largely unnecessary sequel.
Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen In Snow White Was Underdeveloped
Her Extra Screentime Is Almost Entirely Wasted
“Badder” might stand out inDisenchanted, but the Evil Queen’s “All Is Fair” has been one of the most panned offerings in theSnow Whiteremake soundtrack. While some villain songs such as “Be Prepared” fromThe Lion Kingsignify the villain making a major decision,“All Is Fair” fails to establish anything about the Queen that wasn’t established earlier. Despite having more screen time than her animated counterpart, the main addition is simply a theme that she prefers diamonds to roses because she hates things that wither. Given her beauty obsession, this doesn’t feel like new character development.
Snow White’s New Meaning For Fairest In The Land Explained
The new Snow White movie has changed the meaning of “fairest of them all,” a classic line from the original 1937 film. Here’s our breakdown.
Gadot’s character is so underdeveloped that it’s not even clearhow the Evil Queen dies.Snow Whiteestablishes that the Magic Mirror’s only power is to answer a single question. However, the final twist reveals that the Mirror’s definition of “fairest” is misleading, making it unclear that the Queen acquired this artifact without understanding what it does or why it essentially eats her alive at the end of the film. The remake might expand Snow White’s character a lot, but perhaps the movie should have shined some of that spotlight on her wicked stepmother too.
Snow White
Cast
A live-action adaptation of the classic fairy tale. The film follows Snow White as she escapes into the forest and seeks refuge with seven dwarfs to elude her jealous stepmother, the wicked Queen, who is threatened by Snow White’s surpassing beauty.
