Review: Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall: Is This Disney Villains Show the Fairest of Them All?
You Be the Judge! Disney Villains Plead Their Cases in a Brand New Show
"Magic Mirror on the wall, Who's the most misunderstood of all?"
These lines introduce a new song from Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After show, now playing at Hollywood Studios in Disney World. While the tune might become your latest earworm as you stroll through the park, the real answer to the question of who is "most misunderstood" may be the show itself.
Before diving into what makes this show a bit of a head-scratcher, it's worth noting that the set, located in the former Lightning McQueen show's venue, is phenomenal. The lighting effects on the walls and the technical aspects of the moving set pieces and screens are stunning, truly reminiscent of a Broadway production. The live actors embody Captain Hook, Cruella de Vil, and Maleficent. Their audience interaction is a lot of fun, though I personally wish for more.
Disney designed this show as an interactive performance with a changing ending, making it a great stop for families. It's especially good for kids who might not want to ride Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, as the theater is nearby and offers a cool, air-conditioned escape on a hot day. However (and you knew this was coming), I did have a few issues.
We all love to hate the villains. Hey, Disney World is even planning to build a new Villains land at Magic Kingdom. While every story needs a hero to cheer for, it also needs an antagonist we can boo, someone who tries to thwart our hero's journey. Disney excels at crafting these characters, often revenge-driven figures who commit heinous acts, from poisoning young women to manipulating others for power.
This new show is intended to put a twist on how we perceive these scoundrels. The villains seek judgment from the Evil Queen's Magic Mirror, eager to discover who among them is the "most misunderstood." The premise is a departure from the vibe of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Parade, with its refrain, “It’s good to be bad, it's good to be bad, and laugh about the very scary fun that we've had.”
Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent break out from behind the Magic Mirror (and I have no idea how they got into the Magic Mirror in the first place) to plead their cases in song to the audience, arguing that they aren't truly bad, just misunderstood.
During these songs, the characters engage in limited interaction with the audience. While the tunes are enjoyable, many of the arguments in their defense get lost amid the music and the dynamic visuals on stage. I particularly loved the appearance of Tick-Tock the Crocodile in Captain Hook's number and, of course, Maleficent in dragon form. However, I wish some of these arguments were delivered through dialogue rather than song, allowing for more ad-libbing with the audience.
After the trio pleads their cases, the Magic Mirror becomes overwhelmed by other villains wanting to break through and make their own arguments. Here, the animation style varies. More human-like characters like Hades and Jafar appear as figures trying to shatter the glass (think of talking characters in paintings from the Harry Potter series), mixed with traditional 2-D flat animation of Gaston and others. This creates a somewhat uneven visual experience.
Ultimately, the Magic Mirror calls upon the audience to vote on who is the most misunderstood. So, instead of cheering for the most evil, you're applauding for the villain with the best reason or backstory for their actions. This reminds me of the famous line “I’m not bad, I'm just drawn that way" spoken by Jessica Rabbit in the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
This encourages applause and cheers for the villains instead of the traditional boos and hisses.
The fun part is that there are three possible endings, meaning the show might not be the same every time you visit. If Disney were to swap out villains and change the lineup in the future, it would certainly make repeat viewings more interesting.
The show runs for about 20 minutes and has performances every 30 minutes throughout the day. While this is a great diversion for kids, adults and those seeking refuge from the heat, it might have fit better during the Halloween season or maybe in a larger context of a Villains land.
Go and form your own opinion, because as the Magic Mirror also sings:
“But I can’t judge, I just reflect, so what you see, is what you get."