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The 1996 live-action adaptation of 101 Dalmatians offers a playful reimagining of Disney’s classic animated tale, blending charm and adventure with a healthy dose of slapstick comedy. Directed by Stephen Herek, the film stars Glenn Close in an iconic performance as the villainous Cruella de Vil. Her portrayal is over-the-top yet deliciously sinister, and she brings a captivating energy to the role that becomes the film’s standout element.

Plot: The story sticks closely to the original premise of the 1961 animated version, where fashion designer Anita (Joely Richardson) and video game designer Roger (Jeff Daniels) live with their dalmatians, Pongo and Perdita. After their dogs give birth to a large litter of puppies, Cruella, who is obsessed with making a dalmatian fur coat, hatches a plan to steal the puppies, sending her bumbling henchmen Jasper (Hugh Laurie) and Horace (Mark Williams) to do the dirty work. What follows is a daring adventure as the animals of the countryside team up to outwit the villains and rescue the stolen puppies.

Performances:

• Glenn Close steals every scene she’s in with her larger-than-life portrayal of Cruella. She is terrifying yet entertaining, embodying the character’s madness with exaggerated fashion and mannerisms.
• Hugh Laurie and Mark Williams as Jasper and Horace provide much of the film’s humor, though their antics lean heavily into slapstick, which may feel too over-the-top for some viewers.

Visuals and Design:

• The production design and costumes are a visual feast, with Cruella’s wardrobe especially standing out. The dalmatians, a combination of real dogs and animatronics, are charming, and their natural performances add to the film’s appeal.

Tone and Style:

• The film is very much aimed at families, with a lighthearted tone throughout. While it doesn’t delve into the emotional depth of the animated original, it compensates with physical comedy and action. The humor, however, is sometimes juvenile, relying on pratfalls and slapstick, which might not appeal to older viewers.

Critique:

• The film’s biggest strength is its visual appeal and Glenn Close’s performance. However, it lacks some of the emotional warmth and cleverness of the original. The reliance on physical humor and drawn-out chase scenes can feel repetitive. The human characters, other than Cruella, are somewhat underdeveloped, and the story stays relatively surface-level in terms of emotional stakes.

Overall, 101 Dalmatians (1996) is an enjoyable, family-friendly movie that delivers on spectacle and humor, with an unforgettable villain at its center. It doesn’t reach the heights of its animated predecessor, but it’s a fun live-action adaptation with a good mix of heart and humor.