SPOILER FREE
Let me start off by saying the original 1982 Annie is a classic. However, I feel that once a certain image of Annie is shown to the world, the world becomes used to that way of seeing her. Going into this film, the filmmakers understood that no matter how great they made the remake of Annie, it would always live in the shadow of it's predecessor. This film has received controversy for changing the ethnicity of the main character to being African American, and bringing the story to modern times. One can say that the world has changed a lot since 1982, and that such a change does not take away from the original source material but reflects more on the world we live in now. I feel that much of the criticism towards this film stems from the fact that people have grown up with a certain image of Annie that they don't want to see changed in anyway shape or form. That's understandable but it's also not a reason to write off this reimagining which suprisingly doesn't suck.
The plot for the 2014 version is nearly identical to the original film. A foster kid named Annie, who lives with her mean foster mom played by Cameron Diaz, ends up seeing her life changed when business tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks played by Jamie Foxx, makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. Much to the surprise of himself and Annie, they form a relationship that walks a fine line of that of a father and daughter. The young actress chosen to play the title role of Annie is Quvenzhane Wallis, fresh off her Oscar nominated performance in Beasts Of The Southern Wild. She doesn't try to duplicate the performance of Aileen Quinn in the lead role but makes it her own interpretation, and does it pretty well. She makes the character appear to be likeable and sympathetic, a young child you want to see good fortune come to. Jamie Foxx does a solid performance as Will Stacks, also not trying to duplicate the role of Albert Finney as Daddy' Oliver Warbucks, but creates a likeable performance as a self-centered mayoral candidate whose life gets turned upside down when Annie comes into it, and makes him rethink about some aspects of it. Rose Bryne does a nice job as Grace, the assistant to Stacks who befriends Annie, and takes a strong liking to her while also harboring secretive feelings towards Mr. Stacks. It can be debated that Cameron Diez's performance comes across as being over the top, but I feel she did exactly what the script commanded her to do. Her character may appear to be goofy in nature and silly at times, but her character has a nice twist in this film compared to the direction Miss Hannigan went in the original film. She is not Carol Burnett good but she certainly doesn't suck here and comes off as being entertaining and heartwarming in the films third act. The soundtrack of the film is top notch and the films high point with some fantastic songs being redone such as Tomorrow, or It's The Hard Knocked-Life, and Opportunity.
Overall, the remake of Annie manages to capture the spirit and heart of the original film while presenting it for a new generation. Sure it can be over the top childish and goofy at times with tired cliches but it certainly isn't as bad as critics or portions of it's audience made it out to be, and deserves to be seen by lovers of the original film. Its a progressive take on a classical fairy tale story. While it is true there is no comparing the two, that shouldn't be a reason to verbally bash this version of it. This Annie was specifically designed to appeal to a newer generation of children and young adults compared to the one's that saw it in 1982. These are two different generations of people with two different interpretations of the story. As long as the newer version maintains the heart of the original film, which it does, then that should be all that matters ultimately. Annie 2014 is worth watching if one can put aside the modern day change, and embrace it as a fun filled musical for the whole family. And honestly, that's all it was ever mean't to be. It really wasn't that bad.
7/10
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