Get ready for another curveball from female audiences! You’re watching Beyond The Trailer’s
review of Cinderella...
When the first trailer for Disney’s live action Cinderella debuted, it left many scratching
their heads. While the Mouse House had previously applied clever twists to the live action remakes
of their classic animated films, this one seemed like a straight adaptation of the 1950
original. And while later trailers seemed to promise a little more depth - a storyline
for the Prince, the Wicked Stepmother and King in cahoots - it all still seemed rather
simple. But it turns out that Disney’s live action Cinderella is perhaps...deceptively
simple. While the film doesn’t appear to be on the media’s radar, there are signs
that audiences are well aware of it. For instance, the MAC line of cosmetics for the film debuted
early online and has already sold out! Now “Free as a Butterfly” lipstick is available
on EBay for one hundred dollars and if you want the whole set? It’s going for more
than a grand. Disney is also set to release a line of designer shoes that echo Cinderella’s
famous glass slippers, with Jimmy Choo, Stuart Weitzman and Ferragamo participating. Talk
about merchandising! And this won’t be the first time Hollywood will have underestimated
the female audience - both in terms of wanting to indulge their girly-side, and their sexuality.
Twilight, The Hunger Games, Frozen, Maleficent, The Fault in Our Stars, Fifty Shades of Grey
- the list is getting longer and longer. Female audiences want to see their heroines have
it all, both a strong independent spirit and romance - while looking amazing! Yes, Frozen
and Maleficent seemed to say the opposite when it comes to romance, but remember that
all these movies detail DIFFERENT types of relationships with men. Not all men are Prince
Charming - some are bad for us, and some don’t seem like Prince Charming at first glance.
And women are loving it that movies today are depicting that on the big screen. Now
of course, Cinderella does boast a literal Prince Charming, and it will be interesting
to see if the original stereotype still holds as much sway as it once did. And if he is
the same old stereotype. That’s perhaps the biggest question here. With all this progress
in mind, is Disney’s live action Cinderella another step forward, a timeout, or a step
back? We’ll have to wait and see as again, the ad campaign has kept the film largely
under wraps. All that we have seen are LOTS of sparkles, cleavage and posters that look
like a paperback romance novel. Hmm... And as back-up, there’s the Frozen Fever short
where Elsa throws Anna a birthday party - rather than actually rule her kingdom. Step forward,
time-out or step back indeed - and all these mixed messages are driving guys crazy! What
DO
women want?!