PG (for some crude humor and language) Elwes is a versatile actor, and he does do lip-curling antagonists rather convincingly. Our heroine goes through her entire life being at the mercy of other people, most of whom exploit her for their cruel, near-sadistic satisfaction. Ella Enchanted subtitles. Get enchanted. See who she meets along her journey as she desperately tries to conquer her fear of the dark, to find the light! | Rating: 3/5 Stardust and Ella Enchanted are much flimsier affairs, whose appeal comes from whimsy and escapist enjoyment rather than anything more profound or visceral. It's certainly the case that the film is attempting to poke fun at many fairy tale tropes, including the lack of agency in some of the roles accorded to women. Much of the blame for this lies with the director. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. Tired of being taken advantage of, she, with a talking book as her companion, leaves home to find her fairy godmother and return her unwanted gift. Ella is given the gift of obedience by her fairy godmother (Vivica A.
Unfortunately, this tactic of sending up the fairy tale trappings has the side effect of bringing the film's creakiness to the fore. The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive reviewThe percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher. Ella's mother dies and a few years later, her father remarries. April 9, 2004 This all makes for good and entertaining fun, from the musical numbers of 1980s pop tunes to the flamboyant fight scenes. But you've seen this all before. Will Ella manage to conjure a "cure" that enables her to live happily ever after?
Come, Ella.” He bowed to Prince Charmont and climbed into the carriage. Ella (Hathaway) lives in a magical world in which each child, at the moment of their birth, is given a virtuous "gift" from a fairy godmother. Many of the scenes with Cary Elwes fall into the same camp. Pantomime is driven by characters reacting to events rather than acting in spite of them, but many of the obstacles our characters face are shoddily executed. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! The most natural point of comparison within the fantasy genre would be Stardust, another British (or part-British) film in which the somewhat second-rate production values are ultimately trumped by our empathy for the characters. May 4, 2009 Ella Enchanted also features Cary Elwes, who has starred in a fantasy feature himself (the widely acclaimed The Princess Bride), Hugh Dancy, and Patrick Bergin, among others. Cinemark Whoa, Keanu Marvel Co-Stars and Hollywood Pay Tribute to Chadwick Boseman There is a lot about Tommy O'Haver's film which is creaky, or half-cocked, or just a little bit twee. Chadwick Boseman Brought Black History and Power to Life In Ways That Will Inspire For Generations But the film lacks the edge or energy of Shrek both in its vague desire to be satirical and the strength of its relationships outside of this.
But everything about his character is made a little bit more ridiculous than it needs to be, right down to the laughable size of his massive staff. Adapted from author Gail Carson Levine's award-winning children's book of the same name, the Miramax-financed modern fantasy Ella Enchanted is directed by Tommy O'Haver and stars The Princess Diaries alumna Anne Hathaway. Considering that the film is at its heart a frothy romantic comedy (with big dollops of pantomime), the way in which it approaches this idea is surprisingly sophisticated. April 20, 2004 It's not just that he has a bigger budget to play with, or that J. R. R. Tolkien's books are longer and more complex: it's that his ambitions for the characters and what they represent are greater and more fully realised. But Stardust is drawing from the well of fantasy tropes more deeply and affectionately, while Ella Enchanted is essentially a romantic comedy in a period frock, with magic.
But in spite of all its flaws, the film is ultimately a passable affair which does have one or two surprises in store. December 18, 2004
Joanna Lumley is the ideal choice for the wicked stepmother figure, but she's less convincingly wicked here than she was in James and the Giant Peach. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. Ella is under a spell to be constantly obedient, a fact she must hide from her new stepfamily in order to protect the prince of the land, her friend for whom she's falling.Based on Gail Carson Levine's award winning novel, this is the story of Ella, a young woman who was given a "gift" of obedience by a fairy named Lucinda. But we also have to deal with the bad forced perspective and the ropey CG effects which make the film look like it was made in the 1950s. | We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email.