Why do Disney sequels fail?

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15 years ago, Disney released “Enchanted”, a live-action film that focused on deconstructing storybook-romance stereotypes—such as that of ‘love at first sight’.

It was vibrant, charming and refreshing in every aspect. This movie’s new princess formula led to other successful movies like “The Princess and the Frog”, “Tangled”, and many more. Movies led by inspiring characters or based on fairy tales usually tend to stand the test of time and as a result have some level of cultural gravity.

But when it comes to sequels and remakes, can the audience trust Disney to not only reconnect them to those stories but also elevate them into something refreshing and new?

Disney has become notorious for churning out live action remakes of classic tales. Too often, they regurgitate the beloved storylines—that have already amassed a huge audience—and pepper in catchy tunes and famous actors, without reshaping the characters or the plot.

“Disenchanted” is a product of this money-making trend. Part of Enchanted’s beauty was the ability to transform the fantastical into the everyday of Giselle’s animated world, over the chaotic New York city backdrop.

Unfortunately, the sequel is far from cohesive as it crams too much into the story, in a way that is neither engaging nor fun. The songs are not as breathtaking, and the emotional finale isn’t as powerful.

Moving the focus to the wicked stepmother narrative and the mother-daughter bond would have been a terrific advancement from the previous movie. However, “Disenchanted” does not build on Giselle and Morgan’s relationship to the point where it emotionally connects.

Similarly, last year’s live-action musical adaptation of “Cinderella” and this year’s “Hocus Pocus 2” desperately tried to fit in with modern times, but ended up being a hodgepodge of unappealing scenes.

Despite the extravagant musical numbers and costumes, both films were quite lacklustre. They did not have any lacking in the areas of acting, singing, or directing. Sadly, they ultimately amount to nothing more than an echo of the animated originals.

Following this trend, makers of the 2019 reboot of “Aladdin” sadly could not capture the splendour and star power of the animated version into this one. Will Smith as genie was entertaining, but it is not easy to fill the shoes of Robin Williams in his quirky and hilariously animated version.

“The Lion King” reboot heralded excitement from fans, especially when it was announced that Beyonce and Donald Glover would be a part of the cast. However, the animation is so painstakingly lifeless that it saps the characters of their individuality.