With that much having been said, I think “Aladdin” is the weakest film of the big four. The film comments a lot on the social divide in Agrabah and how restricting and regressive it is, with each of the major characters feeling hopelessly trapped in the roles they were born into, without ever feeling preachy and heavy-handed about its message. I’m really not sure when “Aladdin” is supposed to take place, but assuming it’s set about a thousand or so years ago, that sounds about right. The world Aladdin and Jasmine live in is humorous and beautiful but it’s also very cruel, strict and classist, and stepping one toe out of line can have serious, unexpected consequences – which is best demonstrated when some pompous prince tries to whip children, or when Jasmine almost gets her hand chopped off for stealing an apple. Something I like about the “Aladdin” universe is just how casually dangerous it feels.

The middle eastern city of Agrabah is a large departure from Disney’s usual western settings, and intrigues as a location that’s teeming with life. Remember when I said not too long ago that “ Oliver and Company” was very much an 80’s movie? “Aladdin” is a 90’s movie through and through, from the first act continually emphasizing how cool and rebellious it’s leading man is, to the usual Disney renaissance tropes being present, to the celebrity casting of guys like Robin Williams, to the pop culture references, to Genie delightfully asking rug man to give him some casa as soon as he appears. Now, if there’s two things Disney has always loved, it’s magic and royalty, so “Aladdin” was the perfect chance for the company to go nuts with one of their musicals, riding high off the financial success of “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty And The Beast”. “Aladdin” is of course the story of how a young Arabian street rat comes into possession of a magical lamp and a Genie that will grant him three fantastical wishes, adapted from the book of fairy tales, “Arabian Nights”. Growing up, the “Aladdin” franchise was one of the ones I was most familiar with when it came to the big four of the Disney Renaissance (though there still wasn’t much experience there), and I’ve always been fond of it.

Aladdin did you rub my lamp