Every Movie Is the Joker Now, Huh?

In the Cruella trailer, a poorly accented but impeccably costumed Emma Stone arrives at Liberty department store in London (despite the fact that she is clearly a Harrods gal) before teasing a transformation—becoming “psycho,” as Stone narrates. From there, Cruella’s descent into devilishness is marked by car chases and crashes and arson, images of Dalmatians running wild, and valiant attempts at an evil cackle. Because of that, and judging solely by the trailer, the movie looks goofy as hell. Stone, a remarkably talented actor, can’t seem to pull off Helena Bonham Carter’s or Angelina Jolie’s brand of evil—her sinister stares read sad or inquisitive at best.

The world, however, looks gorgeous, and I’ll certainly watch for ghoulish style cues, but something tells me this movie is going to make the most fashionable and despicable maniac in Disney’s filmography uncool, and that’s a buzzkill.

Cruella will become available May 28, 2021, probably on Disney+, and probably for $900 or however much they got people to shell out for Mulan. Happy viewing.