Netflix opened the doors to The School for Good and Evil, carrying us away to a far, mystical land, where true love’s kiss seals the deal for one’s heroic fate but not so much if you’re a homicidal zealot ruled over by one’s hubris. And we’re thankful for that.
Starring a grand cast led by the sisterly best friends Sophie and Agatha, played by Sophia Anne Caruso and Sofia Wylie respectively, this is a film adaptation of Soman Chainani’s best-selling book series. It brings on the bewitching talents of Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Michelle Yeoh, Laurence Fishburne, Cate Blanchett, Jamie Flatters, and more. Directed by Paul Feig, the movie has a runtime of 2hr 28 mins.
Netflix describes the film adaptation of Chainani’s book:
BEST FRIENDS SOPHIE AND AGATHA FIND THEIR BOND PUT TO THE TEST WHEN THEY’RE WHISKED AWAY TO A MAGICAL SCHOOL FOR FUTURE FAIRY-TALE HEROES AND VILLAINS.
-The School for Good and Evil Review Contains No Spoilers-
The storyline is as simple as it is nostalgic in bringing home the much-loved, missed, and forgotten genre of young-adult fantasy, even if it does so barely. A short-lived gratification is felt by the fans of the particular genre, noting reminiscent familiarity shared with the cherished Harry Potter franchise as it puts its characters through the same stratification of presumed categories of black and white.
The foundations of the tale’s similarity were laid down “Many years ago, (when) two powerful brothers created a school to keep the balance between Good and Evil in the fairy tale world”, but as the Potter-verse has already taught us well enough, such things don’t hold the order for too long, especially in a fantastical world. Reinstating the destabilized norm demands the usual Abel-Cain conflict to kick-start the present-day ordeal, ultimately overcooking the ingredients while overturning the current.
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Many attempts are made to strive for the same wistful genre of movies that most await to be resuscitated. However, the last dig to make it happen starts falling into the Disneyfied land of Frozen, invoking a sentimental sisterhood that utterly misses hitting the bull’s eye. The same should’ve been the driving fuel of the storyline, as it was in the books, but the repetitive missed chances are unable to make it beyond their short shelf-life.
Endless elasticity doesn’t always make for a win, which is proved by the ever-so-extended duration of the movie as well. Nevertheless, not everything is a slip off the cliff. The grand display of the cast itself compensates for these issues. Charlize Theron is virtuous Evil incarnate as Lady Lesso, confirming her knack for such roles. Blanchett’s voice itself as the antique Storian is entrancing. Moreover, the soundtrack too tries its all to work its spell and set the mood for the cataclysmic epic battle along with the perfect gothic attires that are just eye candy.
The genuine concept of blurring the lines between what is decent and what is not, casts its final spell by leaving us with the motto that “only the best Evil can disguise as Good”. While it does twist the plot to portray the same, you’re left feeling unsatisfied, wishing there had been more redemptive actions that could’ve saved the brave trial of whisking us back to the visuals we once all loved instead of forcing it on us as an ideological agenda via the incessant exasperated mentions by the ‘good’ protagonist.
The School for Good and Evil: Worth the Watch?
Despite all those falls, I still wouldn’t rule out the movie as something unwatchable. All I want for stories like this is to incorporate nuanced layers and characterizations instead of treating us with the same philosophies, which as good as they are, somehow never find a suitable abode. Watching this one took me back to my favorite world of young-adult fantasies and dystopia, so I have to thank it for that.
However, the aching reality is that in spite of all the sophisticated visuals and imagery that have made their way into present cinematic experiences, we seem to have lost touch in terms of developing heartfelt friendships and well-rounded characters that leave you asking for more, in a positive way. Unlike the older counterparts of the genre, one simply doesn’t feel for these characters anymore, regardless of how much the story coerces us to believe the poignancy of their development. It still lacks that authentic spectacle of pure and humble humane qualities and friendship, which can’t be identified even if spelled out for us when there’s rarely anything palpable.
The School for Good and Evil is now streaming on Netflix.
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