Aladdin (1992)

There are films you remember seeing as a kid where you can still feel the exact sensation of watching them for the first time. Aladdin is one of those. The magic carpet soaring over the clouds, the Cave of Wonders roaring to life, and then Robin Williams opening his mouth and the whole thing just taking off like a rocket. I was dazzled then. Rewatching it now, I'm happy to report that dazzle hasn't faded much at all.

This is one of Disney's most purely entertaining offerings from that golden run in the early nineties, and a big reason for that is Williams. Genuinely, I'm not sure there's a more electric vocal performance in the history of animation. The Genie isn't just funny, he's unpredictable, almost anarchic, and Williams brings this manic improvisational energy that makes every single scene he's in feel alive in a way that's hard to pin down. You don't know what's coming next, and that sense of surprise is a rare thing. He gives the film its personality, its heartbeat, its sheer audacity. Without him, you'd have a perfectly enjoyable fairy tale adventure. With him, you've got something genuinely special.

The rest of the film holds its own, too. The animation is lush and warm, with Agrabah built as this timeless fantasy city that feels both exotic and inviting. The songs do exactly what great Disney songs should do, they stick to you. "A Whole New World" is a genuine belter, the kind of tune that sneaks back into your head three days after a rewatch, and you don't even mind. The whole film moves at a proper clip, full of invention and colour, never letting you settle too long before the next big set piece.

But here's where I have to be honest with myself, because four stars is brilliant and I mean it, but it's not quite five. Aladdin himself is a likeable enough lead without being a truly memorable one. He's charming, he's fun to root for, but he doesn't have the depth or specificity that makes a Disney protagonist genuinely stick with you. And Jafar, while undeniably menacing with his serpent staff and imperious sneer, doesn't quite reach the heights of the very best Disney villains. He's good. He's just not Scar. He's not Hades either, and thinking about it, I find both Hercules and The Jungle Book land a touch higher for me emotionally, more character-driven, more time given over to the relationships that actually matter in the story.

None of that is a damning criticism. It's more like saying a brilliant meal was missing a bit of seasoning. What's on the table is still tremendous. Aladdin is a whirlwind of fun, colour, and nostalgia, the kind of film that earns its classic status not through any single overwhelming quality but through the sheer cumulative joy of the whole experience. It's generous filmmaking. It wants you to have a good time and it genuinely succeeds.

If you've not revisited it in a while, do. It'll take you right back. Four stars, no hesitation.

Rating: ★★★★ (4/5)

Originally logged on Letterboxd.