“Ella Enchanted” (Miramax)
Anne Hathaway became a star when she made “The Princess Diaries,” but her new film “Ella Enchanted” won’t win her many new adult fans. Young girls may love its silliness but all else will run for the hills. This fairy tale with modern twists is a thrown together “Cinderella” story that aims for big laughs but ends up with embarrassing giggles.
Ella (Hathaway) is a girl who has been cursed from birth. A fairy named Lucinda (Vivica A Fox) came to call and gave her the blessing of “Obedience.” From that point on when Ella was told to do something by anyone she had to do it, whether she wanted to do it or not. The only person who can take back the blessing/curse is Lucinda and she says no.
When she gets older her mother dies and her father remarries. He picks a woman with money named Olga (Joanna Lumley). She has two daughters named Hattie and Olive (Lucy Punch and Jennifer Higham) and these two girls make Ella’s life miserable.
The bright spot in Ella’s life comes when she meets Prince Char (Hugh Dancy). He is the future king of the country and takes an instant liking to Ella. But Ella is on a mission to find Lucinda and get the curse reversed. She is aided in her quest by a guy in a book (Jimi Mistry) who can show her where Lucinda is, but can’t tell her where she is located.
The plot is further complicated by Char’s uncle, the evil Edgar (Cary Elwes), who is plotting to kill Char. He is aided by an evil serpent named Heston (voiced by Steve Coogan). These two slithery characters will also kill Ella if she gets in the way.
This story is told with a lot of silliness and not a lot of anything else. There are modern day touches in the setting, such as an escalator at the medieval fair. Ella and Char also sing modern day songs. If the moviemakers were going for the “Moulin Rouge” effect, they missed by a mile.
The film is rated PG for comic violence.
Hathaway and Dancy don’t click as sweethearts. They actually seem uncomfortable with each other. All of the other actors just walk through their roles, mugging for the camera and accepting their paychecks at the end.
The fairy tale aspect might make little girls enjoy this movie but all else will be put off by its silly concepts and lackluster performances. This is a fairy tale that is less than enchanting and won’t send audiences out feeling all “happy ever after.”
I scored “Ella Enchanted” a disenchanted 4 out of 10.
