Ranking All Of The Live-Action Disney Remakes

This dog-centered sequel is way more interested in its human characters than it is in the dogs at the heart of the story, which is probably its biggest problem.

The entire production of this film was essentially just one long excuse for Glenn Close to return to the role of Cruella De Vil. She is the star here, even more so than last time, and the entire narrative has to revolve around her. And while her character arc of being healed of her desire to skin puppies, only to slowly revert to madness over the course of the film, is interesting, the film has no idea how to handle it.

Making his live-action debut, director Kevin Lima leans into the goofs and gags of the various side characters to carry the weight of the story, treating Cruella's arc as more something the film has to just get through rather than actually making the most of it.

As a result, the film feels constantly at odds with itself, unable to ever really commit to its central premise. As much fun as it is to see Close chewing the scenery as evil Cruella, the film never gives her anything worthwhile to do when she's good Cruella, making the film feel like a real slog for viewers of any age.