Sneakerella
Sneakerella
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Sneakerella is an uplifting, gender-swapped musical take on the classic Cinderella tale set in New York City. It follows a talented sneaker designer named El (Chosen Jacobs) who's forced by his grieving stepfather and scheming stepbrothers to toil in the stockroom. The racially and ethnically diverse characters hail from a working-class neighborhood. Even when they find wild success, as some do, they make sure to give a lift to those behind them, demonstrating integrity. Other messages built into the film include staying true to yourself and letting your talent speak for itself. There's very little iffy content beyond the consumerist idea of spending huge amounts of time and money on sneakers, a few minor (and injury-free) falls, and mild language ("sucker," "idiot," "hustler," "oh my God," etc.).
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What's the Story?
In SNEAKERELLA, El (Chosen Jacobs) is a talented shoe designer forced by his grieving stepdad Trey (Bryan Terrell Clark) and scheming stepbrothers Zelly (Kolton Stewart) and Stacy (Hayward Leach) to toil in the stockroom of their shoe store. When El and best friend Sami (Devyn Nekoda) line up to get a pair of newly released sneakers downtown, they meet Kira King (Lexi Underwood). They don't recognize her as "sneaker royalty," the daughter of sneaker entrepreneur and former athlete Darius King (John Salley). El and Kira spend the day together and start falling in love. When her family hosts an event inviting new designers to compete for a contract, El garners attention with his original kicks. He only made it to the event because a local friend, the magical Gustavo (Juan Chioran), helped make it happen. Will Kira's dad take a chance on an unproven designer, and how will that affect the feelings El and Kira have for each other?
Is It Any Good?
This gender-swapped Cinderella tale might feel a bit too sweet for teens, but its diverse cast, uplifting story, and genre-blending song-and-dance numbers are charmingly original and fun. Sneakerella is High School Musical meets In the Heights. The action takes place in a Disney-fied New York City (read: safe and tidy, with happy people singing and dancing on streets and subway trains). It brings the HSM aesthetic to Queens and Manhattan with a bit less humor and a bit more street cred (imagine Sharpay on the subway) but no more realism.
Some characters deserved more screen time, especially fairy godfather Gustavo and celebrity athlete Darius King, but it's entertaining to see the usual Cinderella roles occupied by the opposite genders. The young stars are talented and charismatic, especially lead Jacobs and the scene-stealing Nekoda as best friend Sami. Underwood is underused. Two highlights of the movie are a scheming number sung by the evil but dimwitted stepbrothers and a rap battle between El and King. In the first one, cartoon character shadows appear on the walls behind them. It's one of many uses of moving graphics and illustrations on top of the live-action scenes, and the whimsical concept plays off the sneaker theme.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what aspects of the Cinderella fairy tale are woven into Sneakerella and what pieces are missing. What other contemporary films based on classic fairy tales have you watched?
How does the film overlay graphics and illustrations on the live-action scenes? How does this work with the aesthetic of some of the sneakers and street art seen in the movie?
How do some of the characters demonstrate integrity? Who does not demonstrate this character strength?
What makes a sneaker unique or worth hundreds of dollars, in your opinion?
Did any of the songs in the movie sound familiar? Which musical number was your favorite, and why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: May 13, 2022
- Cast: Chosen Jacobs, Lexi Underwood, Devyn Nekoda
- Director: Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum
- Studio: Disney+
- Genre: Musical
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Music and Sing-Along
- Character Strengths: Integrity
- Run time: 111 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: May 10, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Cinderella (2021)
Musical fairy tale about following dreams has risqué jokes.
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In the Heights
Joyous, touching musical has some innuendo, language.
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Cinderella (2015)
Easy-on-the-eyes fairy tale promotes kindness.
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West Side Story (2021)
Dazzling musical adaptation has violence, language.
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Descendants
Energetic Disney movie's villains make likable role models.
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High School Musical
A modern-day Grease for tweens.
For kids who love fairy tales
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