Reviews of Penelope

Another Fairy Tale for the Modern World

Posted : 2 months, 2 weeks ago on 15 September 2008 12:12 (A review of Penelope)

I went into watching this movie with low expectations. I'd read a little about it, and people had generally said that it didn't live up to its potential. Saddened me, but I had to see it at least once.

I'm glad to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Christina and James did an excellent job in this story, and the only bit I felt was lacking was more of James after Penelope escaped into the real world. I'd have liked to see them interacting more there.

The story itself is pretty much as expected. Family curse, girl's happier with it than her parents, suitors can't get over her looks (that seemed far overplayed, actually), girl wants someone who can accept her, and knows no one will. Enter boy. Boy needs money, doesn't care--at first--what she looks like, the two hit it off better than both expected, but he can't break the curse (no reason given at first), boy runs off, girl runs away from home.

I love that James's character is as rich as he is. And I can see that he probably wasn't given much to play with, because he feels a bit paper-thin on the surface, but James makes him work. Christina's Penelope is absolutely wonderful, and so strong. A great role-model for little girls. And the solution to the curse is absolutely perfect.

Definitely a movie to watch if you like fairy tales, though if you're expecting a traditional romance, it might fall a bit flat for you.

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Penelope

Posted : 2 months, 2 weeks ago on 14 September 2008 06:39 (A review of Penelope)

This movie was so great, I loved so many things about it! I loved the actors in this film, I loved the colors, the story line, the moral of the story, all of it. Such a fun movie! I really do want a Penelope scarf, haha

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Enjoyable Fairytale

Posted : 4 months ago on 29 July 2008 09:53 (A review of Penelope)

This fairytale for our times has a great cast, and without it might be exceedingly trite. But our leads are able to take the simple script and do a little something extra with it. Penelope has been cursed by a witch from long ago, and was born with a pig's nose. If she is ever truly loved for herself by her own kind, this slight oddity will disappear. However, this curse so traumatizes her parents that they lock her away for her own protection. And then they bring in males they hope to marry her off to hoping one won't disappear screaming into the night and keep her from the claws of the paparazzi. The chemistry between Ricci and McElvoy is excellent and keeps this movie from being tedious, and Witherspoon is a hoot. Nothing truly innovative here, but an entertaining story good for children and adults alike.

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