Thursday, January 11, 2007

Happily N'Ever After

Fairly tales are apparently so timeless that even Hollywood has gotten sick of them. It has gotten to the point that classic tales like Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood are being reimagined. This, in my opinion, has been done successfully in films like Ever After (199x) and Hoodwinked (2006) and done horribly in films like The Brothers Grimm (2005). Happily N'Ever After is definitely in the latter category.

The film starts as the traditional Cinderella Story but we are introduced to a lowly servant, Rick (Freddie Prince, Jr) who is in love with Cinderella (Sarah Michelle Gellar). The wicked stepmother gets her hands on a magic staff and upsets the balance of all the fairy tales, letting the bad guys win. The prince turns out to be a chump and it is Rick with Cinderella's help who saves the day.

This film is not clever. The story drags on too long at the beginning and then hurries to find an ending. If this is the quality of children's movies these days, I am truly sorry for the children. This film completely misuses George Carlin and a star filled voice cast including Sigourney Weaver and Wallace Shawn!! (Okay so he isn't exactly a star). I would suggest renting Hoodwinked or Ever After instead. Or my personal favorite reimagining of a fairy tale, Ella Enchanted.

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