Which live-action Disney movie has the most romantic couple?
Here's the definitive ranking of the Disney movie lovebirds.
With Valentine's Day around the corner, you might be interested in rewatching some of the live-action movies for some inspiration on how to wow your beau. There's no doubt that some of the grandest gestures of love can be found in the live-action Disney films, (although they can be pretty pricey if you were to recreate them). So which film has the most romantic couple? Here's the definitive ranking of the Disney movie lovebirds.
While it wasn't an official relationship, there were definitely some sparks between Sabina (Jaquita Ta'le) and Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in the film. While Pinocchio the puppet was sentient, Sabina the puppet was not - she was controlled by her puppet master, Fabiana (Kyanne Lamaya). So was the romance between Pinocchio and Sabina — or Pinocchio and Fabiana?
Since they were both ostensibly children, it was a pure and innocent romance between the pair. While they weren't able to perform grand acts of love for each other (does rescuing one from captivity count?), it's the purity of their feelings for each other that gives this couple a certain sort of charm. Since Pinocchio becomes a real boy at the end of the film, it's possible that he went to look for Fabiana after that.
Lady and the Tramp saw a direct-to-streaming release on Disney+ in 2019 — before we had Disney+ in Singapore. So if you're wondering if you missed it in cinemas, you didn't. The film was an underrated technical marvel, with its digital effects bringing both Lady (Tessa Thompson) and Tramp (Justin Theroux) to life in all their canine glory. Sure, there were humans... but they weren't the main draw, and we all know that.
The film remakes key scenes of the 1955 original, including the famous spaghetti scene. Arguably, the scene works better in 2D-animation than in 3D (thanks to certain perspectives that are not achievable in live-action films), but it's still pretty romantic. In reality though, having lived through a pandemic, sharing spaghetti like that may not be the best idea. Nevertheless, it's the thought that counts.
There's a bit more to both Ella (Lily James) and Kit (Richard Madden), the Prince Charming of the film, in Cinderella, especially in terms of where they came from. You get the sense that they would have fallen in love based on their personalities and background, even if they had not met in such a magical way. From that perspective, the romance between the couple is more genuine than in the 1950 animated film.
Then there's the Herculean effort that both parties make to be reunited with each other once more. It's a grand gesture of love for sure, though not the kind that's easily replicable thanks to how circumstantial it is. Nevertheless, it's nice to know if you have a partner who would go through such lengths to find you, should you ever be separated.
Animal couples can sometimes be as endearing, if not more, than human couples. The Lion King's Simba (David Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter) epitomise that, both as living, breathing animals and in their original guises as hand-drawn images. Set to the classic love song, Can You Feel The Love Tonight?, the scene where they fall along gives you all the feels.
As animals, it's a little challenging for them to display acts of love that we can replicate. But the palpable chemistry between them, both in terms of the animation and voice actors, more than makes up for it. If you have that same sort of chemistry with your partner, you don't need huge gestures of love.
Taking someone on a magic carpet ride across the world — there are few things more romantic than that. That's exactly what Aladdin (Mena Massoud) does to Jasmine (Naomi Scott) in the film, and is one of the key turning points of their relationship. It's grandiose for sure (also, you'd need your own private jet to even be able to come close to recreating this), but then Aladdin's a guy with a magic lamp and a genie that has infinite power. It's suitably epic, given the circumstances.
The film also gives equal weight to both lovers. So when they are finally reunited at the end of the film, it feels like a well-deserved ending. And that's really the crux of the romance — and the splendour of it all.
Taking the top spot in romantic couples is Beauty and the Beast. Belle (Emma Watson) and the Beast (Dan Stevens) have everything to bring this love story to life — a deep connection, an inevitable attraction for each other, good chemistry, brilliant casting and a classic love song (Tale As Old As Time). It's hard to think of a more classic — or more romantic — couple than the pair.
Plus, dancing in a giant ballroom is actually fairly feasible (when compared to getting a magic carpet or buying glass slippers, for instance) — so it's a feat that one might actually be able to pull off, albeit an expensive feat. So overall, Belle and the Beast make for the best live-action Disney couple — for now.
But with The Little Mermaid and Snow White on the way, two other classics that are due for a live-action rendition, that may all change. Perhaps next year (or after), we might see a different Disney couple take the top spot.
Who do you think makes for the most romantic Disney couple?
Read also:
Review: ‘Cinderella’ is an enchanting retelling of a classic tale
REVIEW: 'Aladdin' reinvents original animated Disney film with labour of love
Review: 'The Lion King' is an impressive feat of CGI, but the voices are awkward
Pinocchio review: The new adaptation omits one key reveal - but it still works
