Ella Enchanted (2004)

Too much of everything

Instant Favorite.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

The only thing that this movie really has going for it is that its a bit funny, though a lot of the humor is pretty cheap and unoriginal. The story is poorly executed, partially due to the random bits of narration and the over reliance of characters being dumb. The acting is ok. Some of the actors are terrible, a lot of them are pretty bad. There are a lot of obvious green screens in this movie. The set designs and costumes and effects aren't that great. Its a fun movie, but overall I wouldn't recommend it.

I never read the book. Not comparing the movie to anything. It was just stupid. Terribly terribly stupid. Great actors directed to give over the top performances that become annoying after 30 minutes, and are regrettably never funny. Not even a little bit. Maybe for those under age 8. Maybe. But I doubt it. People compare it to shrek. I get the similarity based on the employment of music and dancing. But story wise, it's use of clever paradox was more like "princess bride," with nothing clever and a telegraphing of humor punchlines so intense I all but expected a laugh track. See Princess Bride. See shrek. But if you're over the age of 8 - take a pass on this.

I wanted to like this movie, but it was too anachronistic. At the end Anne Hathaway is wearing go-go boots and a 60's style dress as she dances the night away to "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." It was just too weird and sideways. I have to say that Anne was just beautiful and it's a shame that she didn't have a better script. The chemistry between her and the prince was truly "enchanting" and sweet. They are the only reason that I'm not giving this one star. Perhaps the author of the book was taken over by her own spell, where she was "too obedient" and let Hollywood do whatever the heck they wanted with her beautiful book, turning it into a big hot mess. Too bad the people who worked on Malificent weren't available to help on the script for this picture.

The protagonist, Ella, has been gifted/ cursed with obedience as she was a baby, by the woefully incompetent fairy godmother. All her life, she is forced to do things she doesn't want to/ mean to do simply because somebody told her to.She managed to grow up without serious issues, but now, her dad has remarried and given her two step-sisters, who just found out that they can manipulate her to do anything they want. She decides to go seek out her godmother and force her to take back her 'gift'. On the way, she meets up with the prince of the nation and his corrupt, power-hungry uncle. She also fights for the ogres, giants, elves and others who had been exiled by the kingdom by the villain.I would call it a Shrek-inspired live action movie. The plot is aimed at kids, but is fairly enjoyable throughout. You have Dr. Seuss-like prose used by the narrator, puns (the prince charming of this tale is called Prince Char), features inner references (Elves are not that short... It's just a myth propagated by the Grimm brothers, Ella is forced to steal some glass slippers, etc), and ripe with anachronisms (The story is set in medieval times, but shows a mechanical, manually operated escalator, references a magazine called 'Medeival Teens', has the prince going to inaugurate a mall, an anti-aging stew made of bat feces and something from oxen - called batox, etc...)Overall, it was enjoyable. The song and dance bits felt weirdly out of place, however.