Aladdin (Mena Massoud) and his monkey Abu are scrounging to survive as thieves on the streets of Agrabah. When evil Vizier Jafar (Marwen Kenzari) forces Aladdin to try to retrieve a lamp for him they are sent on an epic adventure involving genies, wishes and what it means to truly be yourself.

Disney’s remakes of their animated classics continues with one of my all time childhood classics, Aladdin. As with Beauty and the Beast this remake follows the original film incredibly closely adding one new song for Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott) and a new sub plot for Jasmine’s hand maid Dalia (Nasim Pedrad). Elsewhere all the animals (Abu, Iago and Rajah) and Will Smith’s genie are well realised with CGI.

Ultimately Guy Ritchie’s film is pretty good. Although it’s odd to say that none of Ritchie’s signature style is on the film. He seemed like a good fit for director given Aladdin is a street smart thief but appears to have done the gig just as a director for hire. Of course the argument of why it needs to exist could be pointed at it in the same way as all the other Disney remakes, but this has a few things going for it.

Firstly, Massoud and Scott are excellent as Aladdin and Jasmine. They have chemistry and they sing and dance very well.

Secondly, the additional song (in a film that has very few contrary to what your memory probably tells you) is pretty great with Scott getting an opportunity to really belt it out towards the end.

And finally, contrary to pre-release internet vitriol, Will Smith does a pretty good job. Clearly Robin Williams is an impossibly high bar as the genie in an animated film, but Smith brings enough charm to the gig.

It will slot in behind Beauty and the Beast as the second best Disney remake so far for me.