Entertainment
Cruella to be kind? Why I’m tired of villain origin stories
‘The Devil Wears Prada’ is so last century dahhhhrling – this year it’s all about ‘The Devil Wears Puppies’ – yes, that’s right, I’m talking about the much-hyped release of Disney’s Cruella this week.
The film stars Emma Stone in the eponymous role, which tells the backstory of Cruella the dalmatian-donning Donatella Versace wannabe from The 101 Dalmatians film who became one of Disney’s most iconic villains.
The film charts the journey of Estella, a young girl who was ‘born brilliant, born bad, and a little bit mad’, who dreams of being a fashion designer.
When Estella’s obsession with fashion inadvertently causes her mum’s untimely demise, Estella meets a couple of lovable rogues who take her under their wing.
But she becomes lured to the dark side when she starts working for the gruesome, glamorous and absolutely fabulous Baroness Von Hellman played by a show-stealing Emma Thompson, setting off a chain of events that will eventually lead to Dalmatian damnation.
Now I’m all for an origin story as much as the next Marvel fan. How Spidey got bitten by a spider… sure thing. How Thor got his biceps? I am so there.
But why Cruella transformed from Blondie Parallel Lines wannabe to a puppy-peeling Anna Wintour with a less scary fringe? Oh please.
So Cruella had a rough childhood. Cry me a river – she made a coat out of puppies for goodness sake. This is a woman who thinks the Andrex loo roll ad is a sneak preview of Victoria Beckham’s next Autumn/ Winter clothing line.
Now I get the whole black and white polka dot fashion craze thing – I queued up for two hours for that spotty Zara dress. But it’s hard to have any sympathy for somebody whose fashion inspiration was Lady Gaga’s meat dress.
And while we are on the subject, why do all our villains have to justify their villainy?
OK, so the evil ones are often more interesting than the heroes and from Paradise Lost onwards, the villains have always had the best lines and the best wardrobes.
Cruella is certainly dressed to kill (literally) and with its fabulous fashion and stomping soundtrack including Blondie, Nina Simone and The Clash set against the backdrop of the 1970s punk revolution, the film is a visual feast. However, it is really hard to avoid the elephant in the room – or should that be the puppy in the room?
From The Joker to Harley Quinn, there always seems to be a need to explain why they are the way they are. But why are you telling me your excuses for misbehaving? I’m not your year seven form tutor.
Personally, I blame Maleficent for starting the trend, but to be fair, was she really that bad? OK, I get she tried to curse a baby, but she was all about saving the trees – she’s like Greta Thunberg, with less good PR.
At least with Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker, it was less about justifying his badness, and more about explaining how he fits into the Batman Cinematic Universe.
Others like the TV series Hannibal, about a young Hannibal Lector, don’t even try to make you understand the whys, they just made him sexy. Well it wouldn’t be the same if he started baking people into pies because he got booted out of Bake Off because of his soggy bottomed flan.
Are we going to have to watch all our favourite super villains share their childhood trauma, like a big screen version of Dr Phil?
Before you know it, Loki will be on Oprah talking about how he felt he was neglected by his family in favour of his blonde brother because he was destined to be king even though everyone knows he’s the one with all the charisma.
Perhaps Meghan will invite him on her Spotify podcast, while Harry nods and pats him on the knee in sympathy saying ‘yes, been there mate,’ while telling him his authentic truth.
Maybe I could make an exception for Severus Snape, whose superpower was making a bunch of snotty-nosed teen wizards in Harry Potter turn to page 394 and refusing to tell them how to wizard away acne. But apart from him, do we really need a film that looks like it’s been directed by a super villain’s defence attorney?
There comes a point where you have to draw the line. Do we really want to watch a film about Miss Trunchbull from Matilda, or a sympathetic portrayal of the guy who shot Bambi’s mother (don’t get your hopes up Chris Pratt)?
All in all, it’s a great film, but we don’t need Cruella to be kind or kind of justified.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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MORE : Emma Stone is ‘brilliant, bad and a little bit mad’ as Cruella trailer drops
