Back in 1937, Snow White was one of the first big Disney animated releases. It’s a classic that has endured for 88 years and spawned legions of fans. It’s part of the fabric of Disney, including its parks. But in the wave of re-imagining animated films, we’re seeing this story brought back to the big screen.

In the new iteration, Rachel Zegler steps into the role of Snow White with Gal Gadot as her stepmother, The Evil Queen. We get re-imagined versions of the classic songs with the addition of new ones. It’s all beautifully created to bring this story back to life for the next generation of viewers.

We open with Snow White’s birth and early childhood, an idyllic time where she learned to appreciate the bounty of the land and the gifts of the people. But when her mother died and her stepmother arrived, things began to change. When her father disappeared, the Kingdom changed again. Snow White was relegated to a servants role as a prisoner of the palace.

When a thief named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap) comes to the castle, Snow White realizes how bad things are for her people. She tries standing up to the Queen but incurs her wrath instead. That leads the Queen to send Snow White out into the world with The Huntsman (Ansu Kabia), instructing him to kill her.

When the Huntsman can’t kill Snow White, he sends her deep into the forest. There, Snow White meets the Dwarves and Jonathan’s friends. She begins to dream and plan how she can restore her kingdom once again.

This is a timeless tale and while some of the story is updated and changed for a modern era, the bones of the narrative remain unchanged. We have Snow White, the Evil Queen, the Huntsman, the poisoned apple, the Dwarves, and our happy ending. Director Marc Webb does a nice job putting all the pieces together.

The film also has a great fairytale look. The blending of CGI with the animals and the Dwarves works well enough. The sequences look fun and inviting and are a great callback to the visuals of the animated film.

Zegler does a nice job in the lead role. She’s an engaging lead and a powerful singer. I enjoyed the re-imagined songs like “Whistle While You Work” and “Heigh-Ho,” but I also appreciated the new songs. The film is at its best when Zegler is on screen.

The same can’t be said for the film’s other star. We’ve seen Gadot be engaging in other roles in the past, but her Evil Queen here is two-dimensional at best. There’s little life in her character or her sequences, including her musical numbers. Even when face-to-face with Zegler, there’s little pop.

Overall, this new version of Snow White feels familiar and new at the same time. It’s got some good moments and a solid overall look. But it doesn’t feel incredible as either an adaptation or a film. Still, it’s a pleasant enough watch that’s good for the whole family.

Snow White is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.