The School for Good and Evil is a 2022 fantasy film directed by Paul Feig. The screenplay was written by David Magee and Paul Feig and is based on Soman Chainani’s 2013 novel of the same name.
Netflix’s Fantasy Film Cast
The film stars Sophia Anne Caruso, Sofia Wylie, Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Flatters, Kit Young, and Peter Serafinowicz. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 35% of 52 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.90/10.
Plot
There is a school that trains on how to be a princess or a witch. A good one gets trained to be a princess or hero, while the evil one gets trained to be a witch. Every fairy tale character, villain, or hero was once a student of this particular school. Two best friends, Agatha and Sofie, are absolute opposites of one another. They are from a village called Gavaldon, where two kids: one good and another bad, disappear every four years. This time these girls got abducted.
But the story gets complicated. The princess-like Sophie had been sent to the school of evil, and the tomboy-like Agatha to the school of good. Sophie wants to prove her worth, but Agatha intends to return to her village with her best friend.
Review
The school of magic, spells, potions, and syrups, professors all give a deja-vu to Harry Potter. But is this all the director of Bridesmaids, Paul Feig, has to offer? There is more.
The storyline that gives a new perspective on the beginning of a fairy tale raises a peculiar interest in this film. Fairy tales are not any random stories they have been created. And this mysterious and secret school trains the characters- the princess (the good one) and the witch (the evil one).
The best-selling book series by Soman Chainani gave the green flag to create this film. But it surely missed its mark. The costume and the makeup are on point. Designer Renee Ehrlich Kalfus knew what she was doing and perfectly nailed it. What makes a fantasy movie visually appealing? It is the costume designer’s take on the movie. The traditional pastel gowns for fairies and dark gothic and mysterious dresses for evils are unquestionably a treat. The costumes and makeup stole the show.
The casting was good. Sofie played by Sophia, in the scene where she apologetically entered the power-giving ceremony fashionably late. Sophia was thoroughly in her character. Agatha’s performance by Sofia was also sharp and on point. With background music by GenZ’s favourite Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, the film made clear that it knows its audience.
The CGI fights with wordy spells and lots of colours looked dramatic; sometimes exciting but sometimes felt a bit flat. Nevertheless, the mishmash of eccentric CGI, splash of colours, and fireballs all gave an unforgettable treat. The cinematography is too glossy and sometimes unnecessary. But it did provide a feeling of being a part of an unknown fantasy world.
Overall, The School for Good and Evil will surely be a fun watch this fall. The School for Good and Evil is available on Netflix.
