Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes

When I was 20 years old, a very kind family invited me to dinner. I was new to the area and didn’t really know anyone. They were kind enough to invite me into their home, and they really wanted to wow me with a local favorite. What was that dish? Cow tongue.

I’m not talking about the great tacos you can get at some places. I’m talking about an entire cow’s tongue on full display on the table, just waiting to be sliced up. The look of it was less than appetizing. It looked terrible. But I wanted to be a good guest, so instead of showing my disgust, I eagerly took a plate and let the mother of the family dish me some roasted cow tongue.

I was expecting a disaster. I decided to take a bite and then muster every ounce of strength and mediocre acting ability. I had to pretend to like it. I cut a small piece off my plate, stabbed it with the fork, lifted it to my mouth and took a bite. I was completely caught off guard. The meat was tender, and the flavor wasn’t repulsive. Was it delicious and one of the best things I’ve ever eaten? No. But it wasn’t bad, and I didn’t mind finishing the portion on my plate. I didn’t have to fake my way through it. Did I want more? Not really. Have I been craving it ever since? No. If it was offered, would I take another bite? Sure.

Why did I tell this 20-plus-year-old story to you? Disney’s new live-action remake, “Snow White,” is the cow tongue of cinema.

Initially, I thought it would be unpalatable. It looked terrible in every sense and I had zero interest in trying it, but I decided to give it a go anyway. As I participated, I discovered it wasn’t my favorite and it wasn’t something I enjoyed immensely, but it wasn’t bad.

Here are some reasons “Snow White” isn’t as bad as I was expecting and some reasons it’s still not great.

Rachel Zegler‘s ‘Snow White’ is serviceable

Rachel Zegler’s portrayal of Snow White was fine. There was nothing particularly groundbreaking about her performance, but she also didn’t leave me cringing.

Zegler brings a level of sincerity to the role that feels true to the character’s traditional innocence. Still, her portrayal doesn’t shine in any meaningful way. For a character so iconic, it would’ve been nice to see a little more complexity or depth.

While I wouldn’t call it a bad performance — it doesn’t exactly set the stage on fire, either.

The dwarves steal the show

One of the film’s most heavily criticized elements before its release was its CGI representation of the dwarves. If you were worried about the CGI looking weird or out of place, it kind of does. But I can also report it’s not as jarring as I expected.

The dwarves are actually one of the best parts of the film. They provided a much-needed dose of comic relief and genuine heart. Their antics bring a lightness to the otherwise predictable plot, helping lift the mood during some of the movie’s slower moments.

Thankfully, the filmmakers kept the dwarves silly and didn’t try to make us take them too seriously. Odd CGI aside, Snow White’s seven buddies are a highlight of the film.

Gal Gadot‘s Evil Queen missed her potential

Now, let’s talk about Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. I wanted to love this performance; I really did. Gadot has such an undeniable presence, but her performance fell flat here.

The Evil Queen felt forced and overly melodramatic. It’s possible Marc Webb made this choice as a director, but it didn’t work for me. Gadot’s portrayal was often one-dimensional, and her attempt at a musical number, complete with odd choreography, felt out of place.

I’m a big fan of Gadot, but she wasn’t quite the right fit for this role. Or maybe the character wasn’t fleshed out enough beyond being evil, but much of it has to do with the direction in which it does not quite land.

The songs were a pleasant surprise

I went into this musical with low expectations for the music. After all, the original “Snow White” had only a few iconic tunes, and most aren’t exactly chart-toppers. But to my surprise, the new songs were pretty catchy.

While none of them are likely to appear in the next musical theater revival, they did their job well enough to help the movie stay afloat as a serviceable musical.

I could see the songs working in a stage adaptation or being hummed on the way out of the theater. As a musical, the movie is a far cry from last year’s “Wicked,” but it did the job, and the new musical additions helped make it more than just a few renditions of “Whistle While You Work.”

Inconsistent pacing

While “Snow White” has moments of charm and excitement, it also drags in several places. The pacing is inconsistent, with certain scenes feeling needlessly drawn out while others are rushed.

In particular, the ending felt incredibly anticlimactic. It’s as though the film had built up a certain level of expectation, only to collapse under the weight of its own rushed finale.

Several of the jokes also landed with a thud, leaving me wishing for more wit and cleverness to balance out the film’s more serious moments.

Conclusion

So, is “Snow White” a must-see? Not by a long shot. But given the hype leading up to its release, I was pleasantly surprised by how serviceable it turned out to be.

The performances are decent, the songs are catchy enough and a few moments shine, particularly with the dwarves. It’s not a movie I’d rush to see again, but it’s certainly a step up from the disaster I was expecting.

As I mentioned earlier, it is the cow tongue of cinema.

“Show White” is officially rated PG for violence, some peril, thematic elements and brief rude humor.