Ella Enchanted (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
Has there ever been a more enchanting title than 'Ella Enchanted', a fantasy film directed by Tommy O'Haver. This film tells the faerie tale of Ella of Frell (an infectious Anne Hathaway). As a baby, Ella was granted the 'gift' of obedience by her wacky fairy godmother (Vivica A. Fox). Anything anyone tells her to do ... she simply must obey. Like Cinderella, Ella is cared for and haunted by a greedy father, wicked stepmother, and 2 stepsisters who'll do anything to shoot her down. Thanks to Hathaway, our narrator (Eric Idle), some fun musical numbers, & a bit of carefree whimsy, 'Ella Enchanted' gets a moderate thumbs up.
Ella's 2 stepsisters desire Prince Charmount (Hugh Dancy). But he prefers Ella. The problem is, because the sisters are hip to Ella's 'curse'; they use it to their advantage. Ella knows what her curse entails. She doesn't 'want' to obey every command that's thrown at her, but by the rules of her curse, she has to oblige (more often to some very shady characters). Instead of giving up, Ella marches out into the world and bravely attempts to win-over the Prince & his family. Defying ogres, fairies, elves, giants, and the like ... Ella persists en route to the prince's castle where his evil uncle (a scene-chewing Cary Elwes) currently rules. Ella wants her curse to be broken, but fate steps in and we find her potentially assassinating the prince whom she loves so dearly.
Can Ella make her fairy godmother take-away the curse/gift? Or can Ella rise to the challenge of refusing a command!? Will Prince Charmount choose one of her stepsisters? Or can he look past Ella's unfortunate curse to see the love inside? Bogus questions? Yes. Predictable answers? Yes. But fun times? Yes.
Really, this fantasy film takes a modern angle, a modern twist on the 'ole Cinderella story. The setting is clearly folksy; very Grimm, indeed. But some of the characters, the dialogue, and musical numbers take-on an intended contemporary feel. The 'faerie tale' is spoofed in this movie; the script is clever in this aspect. But it's also praised as being a great conveyer of moral messages to younger children. Some moments are incredibly tacky. The ending is unacceptably goofy. The special effects are pretty bad, but the fact that they're pretty bad almost makes it more endearing within the goofy confines of the film. Overall, this movie is nothing but sugary wholesome goodness. Whodathunkit, I was 'enchanted' after all.
Ella's 2 stepsisters desire Prince Charmount (Hugh Dancy). But he prefers Ella. The problem is, because the sisters are hip to Ella's 'curse'; they use it to their advantage. Ella knows what her curse entails. She doesn't 'want' to obey every command that's thrown at her, but by the rules of her curse, she has to oblige (more often to some very shady characters). Instead of giving up, Ella marches out into the world and bravely attempts to win-over the Prince & his family. Defying ogres, fairies, elves, giants, and the like ... Ella persists en route to the prince's castle where his evil uncle (a scene-chewing Cary Elwes) currently rules. Ella wants her curse to be broken, but fate steps in and we find her potentially assassinating the prince whom she loves so dearly.
Can Ella make her fairy godmother take-away the curse/gift? Or can Ella rise to the challenge of refusing a command!? Will Prince Charmount choose one of her stepsisters? Or can he look past Ella's unfortunate curse to see the love inside? Bogus questions? Yes. Predictable answers? Yes. But fun times? Yes.
Really, this fantasy film takes a modern angle, a modern twist on the 'ole Cinderella story. The setting is clearly folksy; very Grimm, indeed. But some of the characters, the dialogue, and musical numbers take-on an intended contemporary feel. The 'faerie tale' is spoofed in this movie; the script is clever in this aspect. But it's also praised as being a great conveyer of moral messages to younger children. Some moments are incredibly tacky. The ending is unacceptably goofy. The special effects are pretty bad, but the fact that they're pretty bad almost makes it more endearing within the goofy confines of the film. Overall, this movie is nothing but sugary wholesome goodness. Whodathunkit, I was 'enchanted' after all.