Emma Stone and Emma Thompson light up the screen — and make a compelling case for re-teaming them in the future– in “Cruella,” Disney’s live-action prequel to ”101 Dalmatians” that shares more DNA with “The Devil Wears Prada” than it does its animated predecessor.
Set in 1970s London during the punk rock revolution, the playful dark comedy tells Cruella de Vil’s origin story, tracing her evolution from a acerbic young grifter and aspiring fashion designer named Estella (Stone) to a headline-making provocateur accused of making a coat out of Dalmatian fur.
By her own account, Estella was “born brilliant, born bad, and a little bit mad.” As she explains, “From the very beginning I realized I saw the world differently than everyone else. That didn’t sit well with some people, but I wasn’t for everyone.” Her unique aesthetic does suit the tastes of Baroness von Hellman (Thompson), a fashion icon who takes the budding designer under her wing, more intent to steal her ideas than nurture her talent.
The Baroness makes “The Devil Wears Prada’s” Miranda Priestly look positively meek and magnanimous in comparison. Neither industry titan suffers fools, but the Baroness has really elevated the art of cutting people down with withering stares and vicious putdowns.
It’s a joy to watch Thompson and Stone swap barbs and it’s evident just how much fun they’re having with their scenery-chewing performances.
Boasting a killer soundtrack and exquisite costume design, “Cruella” is an aural and visual delight that doesn’t rely too heavily on CGI to build its gorgeous universe, and besides, the Emmas alone — and their crackling chemistry — make it worth the price of admission.
Penned by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, “Cruella” is now in theaters and available for rent on Disney+.
