It’s probably not Smith’s fault—we know he’s capable of so much more than this tepid version of what should be a much livelier tune, meant to introduce Aladdin’s fictional Prince Ali persona to the citizens of Agrabah. It’s a hype-man track. This… doesn’t feel like it has much hype to it. It’s a total shrug. “Here’s Prince Ali, I guess. He’s a prince, ya know. So anyway, here’s a bunch of feathers and stuff.” There’s also the weird choice to have Smith ride down the streets atop a pair of ostriches as he sings the line “When it comes to exotic-type mammals.” Does director Guy Ritchie know that ostriches are birds and that birds are not mammals? Don’t they have a lowly, unpaid intern to research these crucial visual aids?
Aladdin hits theaters on May 24. Here’s the official synopsis, in case you forgot how this story goes:
A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, “Aladdin” is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future. Directed by Guy Ritchie, who brings his singular flair for fast-paced, visceral action to the fictitious port city of Agrabah, “Aladdin” is written by John August and Ritchie based on Disney’s “Aladdin.” The film stars Will Smith as the Genie; Mena Massoud as Aladdin; Naomi Scott as Jasmine; Marwan Kenzari as Jafar; Navid Negahban as the Sultan; Nasim Pedrad as Dalia; Billy Magnussen as Prince Anders; and Numan Acar as Hakim.
