FilmSnark

My goodness. This film. I love all of the characters, all of them (Gus-Gus and Jaq, as well as the rest of the mice, Bruno, Drizella and Anastasia). The songs, come on. I feel like I don't actually have to review this film.

Anyway, here are some things I love about Cinderella:

• Animation - one thing that always stands out to me explicitly is the stepmother waving her daughters out the door to the ball - her hand movement is so specific and idiosyncratic, and it just illustrates how true-to-life this film feels
• The Fairy Godmother - come on. The lyrics, the voice, the humor, the illustration. She's a bit chubby and she's old, and she's not made into a joke
• Cinderella - she's such a good-hearted person, but she has a sense of humor and a bit of a sarcastic nature. I mean for heaven's sake she's making extra mouse clothes in case mice come to the house. What a joy.
• The pumpkin carriage and the castle exterior, just so elegant.
• The king. Look, I don't like "the prince has to marry!" as a plotline usually, EXCEPT in this case. The king is obviously being selfish but it's totally reasonable - he just wants grandkids. And he's emotional, and it's adorable. When he almost falls off the balcony shouting for the castle staff to turn down the lights, it gets me every time. "YOU TRAITOR! TREASON! SABOTAGE! YOU WERE IN LEAGUE WITH THE PRINCE ALL ALONG! THE WHOLE THING WAS A PLOT!" Like - this guy is great.
• Sing Sweet Nightingale. The illustration sequence and the song, beautiful.
• A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes - sorry, this song is 8 million times better than Some Day My Prince Will Come, eat it Snow White.
• The Grand Duke. He's an early prototype of other fussy, overcommitted royal assistants like Zazu and Sebastian, and I love him, especially when he does an impression of the king.
• Lady Tremaine - spectacularly evil, with searing facial expressions, vocal command that chills to the bone, and an all-too-human cruelty. When the lighting goes dark when she realizes Cinderella was the girl at the ball, and she goes after her with her evil narrowed eyes - CHILLS. Eat it, evil queen from Snow White.
• The mice. Even when the lady mouse says, "Leave the sewin' to the women" it's because Jaq wanted to sew, and no joke was made of it. Instead he has to get the shinies, which is also a "feminine" thing so I'm letting it slide. The songs, their voices, their animation, all iconic. "Us a-comin'! Us a-comin' Cinderelly!" "Ruuuuuusifee"

Here are some things I don't love about Cinderella:

• literally nothing