Cruella Review: 5 Ups & 5 Downs

By Jack Pooley / May 28, 2021

Ups...

5. Emma Stone's Devilishly Good Performance

What just about everyone can agree on is the strength of Emma Stone's turn as Cruella.

Even in the film's very weakest moments, she gives a fully committed performance as both the downtrodden Estella and her more outgoing, vengeful alter-ego.

Stone does everything within her considerable abilities to sell the character's transformation from outcast to aggressor, wrapped in a thick layer of playful camp throughout.

Comparisons to Glenn Close's prior iteration are inevitable, but Stone acquits herself well as a rather different take on the character. In fact, she's good enough to make one wish she was given a stronger script to match her chops.