Disney held the L.A. premiere of its live-action reboot starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot on Saturday and early reactions to the film say that it is far better than anticipated — CGI dwarfs aside.

There’s still some magic left in “Snow White.” Disney’s controversial live-action remake amped up the sparkle for a kid-friendly Los Angeles premiere on Saturday, where star Rachel Zegler, who plays the title character, went full-on Disney princess. The 23-year-old “West Side Story” actress donned a peachy-pink strapless taffeta gown with a belted, butterfly-embellished corset and a full skirt. She wore her hair in an upsweep and accessorized with a sparkling diamond necklace, drop earrings and rings.Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning. She and co-star Gal Gadot (as the Evil Queen), who wore a sheer black lace gown with a ruffled overskirt, greeted and embraced young fans. Many were dressed as the beloved princess in instantly recognizable blue-and-yellow gowns. The stars did not take questions on the red carpet, which was geared to moviegoers. "I interpret people's feelings about this film as passion for it − and what an honor to be able to be a part of something that people are so passionate about," Zegler told Vogue Mexico last month. The movie has come under fire for “taking a different approach” in depicting Snow White’s diminutive companions, the Seven Dwarfs, and casting a Snow White of Colombian and Polish descent, an ethnic contrast to the original 1937 character. Zegler further riled the faithful by comparing the cartoon prince’s pursuit of Snow White to stalking. But the handful of first reactions to the completed film, which arrives in theaters on March 21, were encouraging. Variety’s Katcy Stephan described Zegler as “a shining supernova” and praised her for “beautifully embodying the graceful, gentle nature of the OG Disney princess." “It’s a visual feast with show-stopping new musical numbers and, of course, dozens of enchanting animated animals,” she wrote. “The screenplay wisely gives its heroine newfound depth through her fervent desire to become the leader her father believed she could be, and a love story that’s sweet as apple pie.” Screen Rant’s Ash Crossan called the film “quite charming!” “The message lands well, the critters are adorable, and Rachel Zegler and her enchanting voice are stunning,“ Crossan wrote. “It almost got a full tear out of me, and I’ve never cried in my entire life.” “Listen, I was worried, but let me tell you Snow White is PURE DISNEY MAGIC!” The DisInsider’s Skyler Shuler wrote. “This will end up being a lot of people’s favorite live-action remake." Matt DeGroot of Crooked Media offered similarly high praise. “Despite becoming an internet punching bag Disney’s remake of Snow White is actually mostly successful!” he wrote. “Rachel Zegler is an absolute star, (most of) the new songs are catchy and beautifully performed, and the visual palette is sumptuous and vibrant.” Critics' reviews, including USA TODAY's, will be out March 19. Contributing: Edward Segarra, KiMi Robinson and Patrick Ryan This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Disney's 'Snow White' wins positive first reactions: 'Quite charming!'

The live-action version of the classic fairy-tale animation sounded like a surefire hit. But even before it's reached cinemas, the response to it has been loud and often hostile.