What Parents Should Know
Parents should know that the movie has some crude language
("bite me" "cute butt") and social drinking. It is supposed to
be humorous when a character gets tipsy and has a drinking
problem. There is violence, including fighting, knives, and
swordplay and characters are in peril. A character is hit in
the crotch in a slapstick fight. In a more serious fight, it
appears that a character is killed, but it turns out not to be
the case. Ella's mother becomes ill and dies. Ella is ordered
to shoplift and due to the curse, must obey.
Families who see this movie could talk about what it was that made it possible for Ella to break the curse. What did she have to learn or feel to make that happen? They may want to talk about the theme of discrimination and segregation in the story. What creates prejudice?
Common Sense Media Review
In keeping with the fairy tale theme, I will begin this
review with a warning: If you want to experience the real
pleasures this movie has to offer, do not expect a faithful
re-creation of the book. The plot, the characters, even the
tone are very different, and the fans of the marvelous book,
who can all but recite it by heart, may feel affronted. But the
book's theme and lessons are all there, and in its own way, the
story it tells is endearing, enduring, and lots of fun.
Both book and movie start with the question a 21st century girl would ask about the classic Cinderella fairy tale. Why did Cinderella do whatever her evil step-mother and step-sisters told her to? According to author Gail Carson Levine, it's because a well-meaning but careless fairy named Lucinda ( Vivica A. Fox), tried to give a gift to Ella ( Anne Hathaway) when she was born, and cast a spell so she would always be obedient. But that meant that whenever Ella was given a direct order, she had to do whatever she was told. Literally. This is an inconvenience in a loving household but becomes downright dangerous when Ella's mother dies and her father marries nasty Dame Olga ( Joanna Lumley). And it becomes downright deadly when an evil usurper orders Ella to commit murder.
Ella's journey to find a way to break the spell has its own dangers as she meets up with elves, ogres, giants, fairies, and of course a very charming prince ( Hugh Dancy).
Like Shrek, this is a fairy tale with some broad (and occasionally crude) humor and winking references to modern times. Ella attends the local community college and shops at the Galleria include the "Crockery Barn." The soundtrack includes covers of pop classics from "Respect" to "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart."
