Cruella - A Villain is Born

 Disney has been making live action versions of some of their more popular animated movies for years now.  Some of them I have liked and others I wasn’t interested in.  The studio has also started to make live action movies focused on villain characters.  Cruella is the latest of those movies.

Cruella was released to theaters and through Disney + with Premiere Access on May 18, 2021.   The movie became available to view without Premiere Access on August 27, 2021.  That is when I watched it.  Since I would be the only person watching it, the extra fee for Premiere Access is a bit high, though depending on the movie, I’m not saying I would never do it.  I just haven’t so far.  I do think it makes sense if multiple people will be watching.  I do like that there are other options for people, though I know that may change in the future.  

I’m only going to briefly discuss the plot of Cruella.  Really the only thing I knew about the movie before watching it was that it would show a younger Cruella before the events of 101 Dalmatians.  

**Minor Plot Discussion**  

Child Estella Miller is very creative where fashion is concerned.  She is picked on at school because of her unique hair.  She is rebellious and can be a bit cruel at times.  Her mother comes up with the name Cruella for that side of her.  Estella ends up on her own in London after a tragedy.  As a young adult, Estella still has her love of fashion and dream of somehow becoming a designer.  She starts doing things as Cruella, gaining attention for her unique fashion and antics while also working toward her ultimate goal.

**End of Minor Plot Discussion**

There is a short scene during the credits that helps to further connect the movie to 101 Dalmatians.

Cruella is rated PG-13.  There is some mild swearing - the word that rhymes with luck is never used.  There are a few intense scenes that may be upsetting to younger children.  There is mild violence, but nothing excessive or explicit.  Parents should just watch the movie themselves to make the determination on if their children could handle it.  

I believe Cruella is a prequel to 101 Dalmatians, both the animated and live action versions.  The movie ends before the events of the other movies.  I’m not completely sure how much before 101 Dalmatians Cruella ends.  I’m honestly not sure if this movie is supposed to be considered a reboot or not.  There are differences to the character of Cruella in this movie from how she has been previously depicted, but there are also a lot of similarities.  Some things do give some sympathy to the character, though I don’t think she was changed so much that she wouldn’t end up as she was in the other movies.  Certain things that happen can be why the character is the way she is in 101 Dalmatians.  Little things here and there can definitely tie into the events of the other movies.   I did recently read that there are now plans for a sequel.

Cruella does cover a long time frame, from Estella’s childhood to when she is an adult and becomes Cruella.  Most of the movie is focused on a period of time when she is in London as a young adult.  I’m not sure exactly how much time passes during that part of the movie.  It covers at least several months.  Estella/Cruella goes though a lot over the course of the movie.  I did think a few things were predictable, but the movie is still entertaining.  There is a little bit of action in a few scenes without making the movie action packed.  The movie takes place in the 60s and 70s and a lot of music from then is used throughout the movie.  I did recognize most of the music and I think it worked with what was going on.  Fashion does play a huge part in the movie and a lot of it is amazing looking.  

A few important moments from Estella’s childhood are shown.  Those moments do have a lasting impact on her and influence decisions she makes as an adult.  She definitely had a rebellious side as a child that got her into trouble, though she wasn’t evil.  Once she is an adult, she is trying to be good and responsible, but she does turn more and more to her darker side as she becomes Cruella.  She does act and even speak differently as Cruella, something her friends notice and they are not as happy with the change to Cruella at times.  Emma Stone is wonderful in the part.  

Baroness von Hellman, almost always referred to as the Baroness, is a well known, successful designer in charge of a fashion house.  She a self-absorbed narcissist who treats everyone horribly.  She is willing to do anything to get what she wants.  She is a very unpleasant woman.  Emma Thompson is great in the part.  Mark Strong is in a few scenes as John, the Baroness’s valet who has worked for her for a very long time.  

Horace and Jasper are thieves who befriended Estella when they were all still children.  They worked together for years and formed a sort of surrogate family.  They do things for Cruella, though they are not happy about several things once Estella is Cruella more often.  In the previous movies, Horace and Jasper seemed to just be bumbling idiots hired to do Cruella’s dirty work.  There was no indication of a longer or different relationship between them and Cruella like there is in this movie.  They are criminals, but they really aren’t evil.  They are nicer than there have been in the previous movies.  Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser are good in the parts. Roger and Anita, the main characters in 101 Dalmatians, do show up in a few scenes each.  Artie, played by John McCrea, owns a vintage fashion shop that Estella discovers and the two become friends.   

Cruella is an entertaining movie that is worth watching.  There are a few moments that are slightly disturbing and could upset children, but the movie is still good and worth watching.  It is interesting to see a somewhat different version of the character.