Aladdin (1992)

I’m pretty sure it is politically incorrect to enjoy this movie anymore. Some Disney films are timeless wonders, never losing their magic. Others are near-hits that have short-term staying power but lose their touch after a generation or two. Fewer still are the misses that are quickly forgotten about. Then there is Aladdin. It gets high marks for being extraordinarily fun to watch, but will all the Middle Eastern stereotypes put the brakes on this film’s longevity in a post 9/11 world?

The evil sorcerer Jafar is looking for a ‘diamond in the rough’ to snatch a magic genie’s lamp from the Cave of Wonders. He finds just the person he needs in a young street beggar named Aladdin but the plot goes awry. Aladdin and his pet monkey Abu befriend the zany genie and they embark on a journey to pass off Aladdin as a prince to woo the lovely and headstrong Princess Jasmine.

This film is so much fun to watch. That fact alone makes up for a lot of little quibbles here and there. The animation is simplified many times throughout, looking more like The Rescuers Down Under than Beauty and the Beast. Some of the more textured and detailed stretches of animation come when the filmmakers use their hybrid CGI-traditional animation technology. This technology has not aged well and you can really tell where it’s used. Other than that, the color palette is bright and exotic and fits the story well.

The music of Aladdin is hit or miss. Sure, there are the two or three big hits but there are only five songs in total. The incidental music is largely forgettable, as if Disney knew it needed a handful of catchy tunes to appease the masses and put as little effort as possible into exceed the bare minimum. Those hit songs though? Boy, will they stick in your head afterwards!

The characters of this film are an interesting mix as well. Aladdin and Jasmine are all fine and dandy but fail to make much of an impression- he’s the petty thief with a heart of gold and she’s a post-feminist era woman fighting against a male-centric society. The supporting characters steal the show but I’m not sure why Jafar needed to be so effeminate. Granted it makes his arrogance and cockiness more humorous, but it causes viewers to not take him seriously even though he wields extraordinary power. His bird sidekick, Iago (voiced by Gilbert Gottfried) helps keep him in check and sets up plenty of gags.

The real show-stopper here though is Robin Williams as the Genie. His character has all the best lines, the best antics, and the best personality. The Genie is so off the wall and makes many non-contextual jokes, allusions, and impersonations. This non-contextual humor usually bothers me, and I’ll admit that I’m not crazy about it in Aladdin, but the Genie’s charm and pizazz makes this movie worth watching. Without all the wackiness Aladdin would probably have been forgotten about by now.

This brings me back to my initial question- how much longer will Aladdin be remembered? Disney has gotten some serious mileage hawking Princess Jasmine dolls to little girls. The character is a boost to Disney’s commitment to diversity in its princesses even though the story presents some harsh stereotypes about the Middle East. Yet, for those who want to complain about politically incorrect content, I say this- the story takes place in the distant past. If you think it reflects poorly on the modern day Arab world, lighten up and enjoy the magic carpet ride. This is one of the most start-to-finish fun Disney movies out there.

RATING: 3.75 out of 5