REINVENTION: The recent motion-picture remake of the Broadway classic Annie features a new twist.
By Michelle Boulos, Staff Writer
Back in 1982, movie theaters were packed with people anxiously holding on to their popcorn and drinks, waiting for the musical film Annie to start. With its new remake, released on December 19, 2014, I found myself in that same position, popcorn in tow, waiting to see the recreation of such a beloved classic. And it absolutely did not disappoint.
The plot line from about 30 years ago of a young orphan girl who stays with a rich man was kept the same, but of course, the 2014 film’s producers gave it a modern spin.
The main character is given a different look, changing from an iconic, freckle-faced redhead to an adorable dark-skinned girl with a black-haired afro. Lively and playful, Quvenzhané Wallis performs Annie’s role with a bold voice that brings viewers into her crazy, new world. Jamie Foxx plays Mr. Stacks, an entrepreneur and candidate for New York City’s mayor, who fosters Annie for seven weeks as a campaign stunt. To Stacks’ surprise, he discovers that he actually cares for her, adopting her into his world of work, bright lights and technology. And that’s just what makes this version so unique.
Filmmakers have captured and infused today’s culture into the film. With Mr. Stacks’ high-tech, voice-automated home, the setting reflects the technological aspect of our society unlike the 1982 version did. The advancement of technology is primarily showcased when Annie gives her friends smartphones from Mr. Stacks’ company as goodbye gifts when she leaves the orphanage. At one point, she went missing in the movie, and the surprising way in which they found her was by tracking her through social media websites such as Twitter.
Several interracial couples are also featured in the film, such as Mr. Stacks with his assistant, Grace (Rose Byrne), and the orphans’ caretaker, Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz) whose love interest is the shopkeeper Lou (David Zayas).
The most important part of the movie was salvaged: the songs. Infectious melodies such as “It’s a Hard Knock Life” and “Tomorrow” seemed to be kept the same, but Wallis, Foxx and Diaz breathed new life into them. I couldn’t help but sing along!
The changes made to the new version made the story feel more relatable while not diverging too much from the original spirit of the musical film. Moviegoers should be walking into theaters to watch this film saying, “I think I’m gonna like it here,” just like Annie.