For decades, Disney has established itself as a haven for family entertainment, but more specifically, the studio has become synonymous with fairy tales. To that end, few of these “happily ever after” fables is as well-known or beloved as Cinderella, brought famously to life by Walt Disney and his team way back in 1950. The film, in fact, remains an integral Disney princess, and her palace still stands as the central landmark of Disney’s Magic Kingdom as well as the logo for the Disney brand itself. So, that being said, does the world really need another take on this age-old story, especially from the studio that most famously brought it to the big screen decades ago?

As it turns out, director Kenneth Branagh’s live-action non-musical adaptation of Cinderella brings enough new to the story to justify its own existence, subtly updating outdated elements of the original story and adding a somewhat more humanized tone to a number of characters along the way. In the title role, Lily James sells moviegoers on Cinderella’s unflappable sweetness, grounding it in a promise to her late mother, and finds a way to make the character’s naivete quietly honorable without resorting to turning her into a damsel in distress. Likewise, Richard Madden lends such much-needed depth to the Prince, elevating him from bland eye candy to a smitten romantic with something to prove to his father and his kingdom.

One would think that a Cinderella adaptation – especially one directly from Disney – would suffer without the original film’s unforgettable music. However, screenwriter Chris Weitz (About a Boy) peppers this new film with enough fresh developments to make the story feel more alive and tangible than its animated counterpart, imbuing each of the three central characters (Cinderella, the Prince and Cate Blanchett’s Lady Tremaine – more on her in a moment) with richer backstories and clearer motivations without betraying the story’s familiar framework (even the mice are accounted for!). In addition, Branagh’s Cinderella features a number of callbacks to the earlier film and even clears up a few plot holes along the way (the over-the-top search for someone who fits in that glass slipper even makes more sense this time around).

Two-time Oscar winner Blanchett is predictably outstanding as the villainous Lady Tremaine, better known as the Evil Stepmother to the rest of the world. The character still stands as one of the all-time most memorable Disney villains, but Blanchett’s performance finds a dark sense of humor and a purposeful cruelty in her. The role could easily have been blown way out of proportion and become an over-the-top mess in less skilled hands than Blanchett’s.

In many ways, Cinderella feels like a throwback to another era of moviemaking (that’s a compliment), with its steady, measured pace and determined avoidance of lowbrow humor. Helena Bonham Carter’s Fairy Godmother and her magical shenanigans were a bit underwhelming, all things considered, and a few of the character moments felt like they lacked the emotional resonance Branagh was shooting for. However, the director has solidified his skill at big-budget spectacle, after having directed Thor in 2011. The film’s cavalcade of ornate costume designs and flawless production design certainly help propel Branagh’s vision forward even moreso.

It is a bit troubling that Cinderella marks the continuation of a trend that is seeing Disney remake or revamp a number of its animated classics in live-action (Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent). Of course, it’s smart business for the studio. However, the resulting films have had mixed receptions from critics, and with new takes on such beloved films as The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, and Dumbo (yes, you read that last one right) on the way over the next few years, it’s hard not to see the inherent laziness in simply recycling old product rather than creating something fresh and new for today’s audiences to enjoy. Regardless, for a film that violates this principle to its core – and one that should not have worked because of it – Cinderella delivers first-rate family entertainment and will likely be a staple in households everywhere in no time flat.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Cinderella stars Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Stellan Skarsgård and Helena Bonham Carter. It is directed by Kenneth Branagh and is now in theaters.