Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs

Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs is a 2019 English-language South Korean computer-animated fantasy film produced by Locus Corporation. It is based on the German fairy tale Snow White by the Brothers Grimm and its name is derived from the Danish fairy tale The Red Shoes. The film features the voices of Chloë Grace Moretz, Sam Claflin, Gina Gershon, Patrick Warburton, and Jim Rash.

Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs
South Korean theatrical release poster
Directed bySung-ho Hong
Produced by
  • SuJin Hwang
  • HyungSoon Kim
Written bySung-ho Hong
Starring
Music byGeoff Zanelli
Production
company
Locus Corporation
Distributed by
Release date
  • July 25, 2019 (2019-07-25)
Running time
93 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageEnglish
Box office$9.7 million

Plot

A group of heroic princes called the Fearless Seven (F7) - Merlin, Arthur, Jack, Hans, and triplets Pino, Noki and Kio - save a Fairy Princess from a dragon. Once they see her face however, they assume she is a witch and attack her. To teach them a lesson, she curses them to transform into dwarfs whenever people look at them and they can only undo it if they receive a kiss from "the most beautiful woman in the world".

A year later, the evil witch Regina takes over King White's kingdom after marrying him. People begin disappearing, including the king. To maintain her youth, Regina tries to create a pair of magic red shoes, but continuously fails. King White's overweight but strong, kindly daughter, Snow White, returns to find him, only to find Regina's latest pair of shoes. They transform her into a thin, beautiful princess, but Regina attacks her, unaware that she is Snow White. Snow flees and, following a message from her father, looks for the F7.

At the Seven's home, they agree to help find her father in the hopes of winning her heart. Regina hires the selfish Prince Average (Av-er-ah-ge) to find Snow. Snow takes the shoes off before Merlin saves her from Average's guards. After he fails to recognize her without the shoes, she decides to keep them on. She grows close to Merlin and attempts to show him her real self, but finds herself unable to remove the shoes. When Average and his henchmen return empty-handed, Regina transforms them into monstrous wooden bears.

Snow confesses her feelings for Merlin and they kiss. However, it does not break his curse. Learning Snow's identity, Regina decides to find her herself. Snow reveals the truth about her father to Merlin and admits he probably would not have helped if he knew. She and an ashamed Merlin part ways. Regina tricks and captures Snow, and Merlin sneaks into the castle to save her.

Regina tries to force Snow to eat a magic apple. When Snow refuses, she threatens to kill a captured Merlin. Snow complies and turns into an apple tree. The Mirror taunts Merlin but before it can kill him, the rest of the F7 save him. Jack destroys the Mirror and Merlin sacrifices himself to save Snow by using his magic to electrocute himself and Regina. This causes the wooden animals to change back into King White and three human children. Snow reunites with her father and Merlin dies in Snow's arms. She gives him one last kiss, which breaks the curse and revives him. They accept each other's appearances.

In the end credits, Snow and Merlin marry while the other princes find their own girlfriends. The Fairy Princess fishes Prince Average out of the river and turns him into a dwarf after he insults her.

Cast

Ava Kolker, Asher Blinkoff, and Juju Journey Brener have voice roles as the Wooden Bear Cubs.

Additional voices by Brian T. Delaney, Benjamin Diskin, Terri Douglas, Piotr Michael, Amanda Troop, and Kari Wahlgren.

Reception

Critical reception

The reaction to the film was mixed to positive.[2][3][4]

Fat shaming controversy

A marketing campaign for the film revealed at the 2017 Cannes Marche du Film was criticized by critics and audiences for alleged fat shaming.[5] Chloë Grace Moretz, who portrayed Snow/Red Shoes, stated she was "appalled" by the marketing that she felt it did not reflect the actual film's message.[6][7] The production company immediately terminated the campaign and issued an apology, stating:

As the producer of the theatrical animated film "Red Shoes and the 7 Dwarfs," now in production, Locus Corporation wishes to apologize regarding the first elements of our marketing campaign (in the form of a Cannes billboard and a trailer) which we realize has had the opposite effect from that which was intended. That advertising campaign is being terminated. Our film, a family comedy, carries a message designed to challenge social prejudices related to standards of physical beauty in society by emphasizing the importance of inner beauty. We appreciate and are grateful for the constructive criticism of those who brought this to our attention. We sincerely regret any embarrassment or dissatisfaction this mistaken advertising has caused to any of the individual artists or companies involved with the production of future distribution of the film, none of whom had any involvement with creating or approving the now discontinued advertising campaign.

Later sources, including organizations aimed at promoting good messaging in family entertainment, would be more sympathetic to the film, noting that Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs is "loaded with valuable lessons for children and adults[8]" and "promotes body image and self-acceptace, while confronting stereotypes.[9]"

References
  1. Cite_web|url=http://www.its-new.co.kr/en/movie/works/detail.aspx%7Ctitle=MOVIE&NEW : ENJOY NEW MOVIE, GET BRAND-NEW ENTERTAINMENT|website=www.its-new.co.kr
  2. "'Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs' movie review: Disappointment at every turn". Young Post.
  3. "(Movie Review) 'Red Shoes' gives quirky twist to classic Disney fairy tale". Yonhap News Agency. July 10, 2019.
  4. "Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs". slinkmagazine.com.
  5. "People Are Not Happy About This Body-Shaming Snow White Movie". yahoo.com.
  6. Frater, Patrick (February 7, 2019). "Berlin: Chloe Grace Moretz's 'Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs' Animation Sells Widely". Variety.
  7. Fortin, Jacey (June 1, 2017). "A Movie Poster Body-Shamed Snow White, and Chloë Grace Moretz Was 'Appalled'". New York Times.
  8. "Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs | Dove Family Friendly Movie Reviews". Dove.org. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  9. "Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs - Movie Review". www.commonsensemedia.org. 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
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