“A Cinderella Story” (Warner Brothers)
Hilary Duff stars in the teenage fairy tale “A Cinderella Story.” It is sweet, simple, senseless and sappy. Pre-teen girls will probably adore it but the rest of America will probably opt for something more sugar free.
Duff plays a girl named Sam, the most overused name in the movies today. She is forced to live with her wicked stepmother (Jennifer Coolidge) after her beloved father (Whip Hubley) is killed in an earthquake. She also has to put up with the antics of her two stepsisters, Brianna and Gabriella (Madeline Zima and Andrea Avery).
Sam slaves away at her stepmother’s diner while working hard to maintain an “A” average in school. She has dreams of attending Princeton where her father has told her “all the Princes go.” She even has a secret admirer who instant messages her on her cell phone and tells her that he wants to go to Princeton too. Sam doesn’t know who this person is and he doesn’t know who she is either, but they arrange to meet at the high school Halloween dance.
Of course on the night of the dance her stepmother tells her she has to work at the diner, but in true fairy tale fashion she manages to get away and looks beautiful in a mask and ball gown. These have been provided by her “fairy godmother” who is actually her co-worker at the diner.
Duff is cute and appealing in this film and has a down to earth quality that works in her favor. Chad Michael Murray plays Austin Ames, her Prince Charming. He is likeable in the role but brings nothing special to it.
Jennifer Coolidge has been a standout in films such as “Best In Show” and the “American Pie” series. She is always great, but this time out all of her best lines were shown in the trailer for the film.
Madeline Zima who plays Brianna may look familiar to you. She was the youngest daughter on “The Nanny.” She has certainly grown up and shows a sure sense of comic timing in this role. Obviously Fran Drescher did a good job of teaching her how to play a joke for the biggest laugh.
The film is rated PG for mild innuendoes.
Duff’s Sam seems destined to live happily ever as every fairy tale princess should, but unfortunately the movie overdoses on saccharine and turns into a pumpkin.
I scored “A Cinderella Story” a stroke of twelve 4 out of 10.
