Sneakerella - A Disney+ Movie Review
'Sneakerella' should have been its own story instead of forcing story elements from a popular fable.
You can tell a lot about someone’s shoes. Just don’t lose them.
Sneakerella is a 2022 Disney+ film adapted from the Cinderella tale. El has a gift to create sneakers. His step-family refuses to let him go about with his dreams. Learning that he may have a chance, he doesn’t have much time before the bell tolls midnight.
I was really excited about this new Cinderella adaptation that I was surprised to see it getting bad reviews. Taking my own watch, while I liked the concept and message, Sneakerella should have been its own story instead of forcing story elements from a popular fable.
Chosen Jacobs was wonderful. I have been a fan of his work since I saw him in the IT movies. I didn’t even know that he could sing! El is passionate about shoes and their story. Unsure of his path, El is met with an opportunity that could change his whole life. Jacobs was the best part of the film, putting his heart into the role.
Casting choices were great for Sneakerella, but it’s the characters that deserved more fleshing out. As I said, the film didn’t have to copy everything from the Cinderella fable. Credits include the talents of Lexi Underwood, Devyn Nekoda, Bryan Terrell Clark, Kolton Stewart, Robyn Alomar, Yvonne Senat Jones, and John Salley.
Let’s talk about El’s step-family. As much as I was entertained by the step-brother's villain song, I didn’t find their character necessary. All they do in the film is show up to tease El, disappear, and then reappear to do the same thing. The usual step-sibling act in all Cinderella tales. They weren’t used to their fullest potential.
The stepfather is the most important and deserved a bigger role than what he was given. Writers played up this role much differently from the original fable. The storyline between El and his stepfather is given a resolution way too fast.
Okay, I don’t think we needed a Fairy GodMother/Father character. This film did not need to add a touch of magic. It wasn’t believable. Sneakerella is a modern twist of the fable, and the magical moments weren’t necessary. Life works in mysterious ways. That is what the film should have concentrated on instead of random fairy dust.
The song numbers were enjoyable but I think the film could have worked without them. The mix of modern tone and fairytale setting didn’t work.
As an example of a film that does a modern Cinderella twist, let’s talk about A Cinderella Story. That was all a modern approach without any magic or the need for song numbers. Sneakerella had an exciting premise but right from the start, it was unsure of what it wanted to be.
I have seen a couple of other films directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum. I like her direction in kids' films. She always has a touch of tenderness and a spark of imagination. Overall, there were good emotional moments and an actual conflict at play. Every chance of passion was put into the moral.
It’s always good to add new touches to an old story. The thing is, you don’t have to add everything. Sneakerella was too long making audiences lose focus.
The film has such a positive message. Shoes say a lot about a person. The topic of shoes is one of the best aspects of the film. It drives passions.
Sneakerella is worth your watch. It’s a feel-good story that makes you want to get up and dance around. Go find it on Disney+ and watch it with your family.
About the Creator
Marielle Sabbag
Writing has been my passion since I was 11 years old. I love creating stories from fiction, poetry, fanfiction. I enjoy writing movie reviews. I would love to become a creative writing teacher and leave the world inspiring minds.
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Comments (2)
I haven't seen the movie, of course. But based on your review and the latest Disney movies I have seen, I would say that it's not the first time it happens. It was an enjoyable read!
Now this has piqued my interest to watch