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Movies / On DVD / Ella Enchanted
Ella Enchanted

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Ella Enchanted (2004)

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Reviews Counted: 110

Fresh: 54

Rotten:56

Average Rating: 5.5/10

Consensus: Hathaway is a charming heroine, but the simple storyline gets overwhelmed by silly gimmickry.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for some crude humor and language

Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Apr 9, 2004 Wide

Box Office: $22,811,339

Synopsis: Similar to SHREK and THE PRINCESS BRIDE, this fantasy adventure, based on a book by Gail Carson Levine, combines fairy tale with sly, 21st century pop humor. Teenage Ella (THE PRINCESS DIARIES'... Similar to SHREK and THE PRINCESS BRIDE, this fantasy adventure, based on a book by Gail Carson Levine, combines fairy tale with sly, 21st century pop humor. Teenage Ella (THE PRINCESS DIARIES' Anne Hathaway) lives in Frell, a magical place where humans, fairies, ogres, and other mythical folk peacefully coexist. However, when power-mad Prince Regent Edgar (Cary Elwes) passes laws that segregate humans from everyone else, Ella becomes determined to win equal rights for all. This task presents a challenge for anyone, but especially for Ella, who at birth was given the dubious gift of obedience by Lucinda (Vivica A. Fox), a fairy with an attitude. When she finds an ally, and love interest, in the almost-king Prince Charmont (Hugh Dancy), she invokes the ire of her witchy stepsister Hattie (Lucy Punch), who has figured out that Ella must obey any command. Between avoiding her stepsister, trying to break the spell, and restoring justice to the kingdom, will Ella find time for true love? The talented cast, featuring Eric Idle, Minnie Driver, Joanna Lumley, and Jimi Mistry, play up the jokes, including heartthrob posters of Prince Charmont from "Medieval Teen" magazine and a Middle Ages mall. Contemporary music, including songs sung by star Hathaway such as "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing," and riotously colorful dance numbers, complement the anachronistic humor. With its mix of SLEEPING BEAUTY, CINDERELLA, and classic teen irony, ELLA ENCHANTED provides a timeless heroine. [More]

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Joanna Lumley, Cary Elwes

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Joanna Lumley, Cary Elwes, Steve Coogan, Eric Idle, Vivica A. Fox, Minnie Driver

Director: Tommy O'Haver

Director: Tommy O'Haver
Screenwriter: Laurie Craig, Karen McCullah Lutz, Kirsten Smith, Michele J. Wolf, Jennifer Heath
Studio: Miramax Films

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Release:

Aug 24, 2004

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Ella Enchanted
  • Anne Hathaway, the delightful star of THE PRINCESS DIARIES, is Ella in the charming fairy tale adventure ELLA ENCHANTED. On the day of her birth, Ella is given a gift by her Fairy Godmother -- the gift of obedience, which is also a curse. Under no circumstances can Ella refuse anything she is asked to do, no matter how wicked it may be. Tired of being taken advantage of, Ella, with a talking book as her companion, leaves home to find her Fairy Godmother and return her unwanted gift. This simple errand soon turns into an amazing journey filled with ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, elves, and the plotting of Prince Charmont's evil uncle who wants to take over the Crown and rule the kingdom. Bursting with colorful characters, music, wit, and whimsy, ELLA ENCHANTED is a truly enchanting and heartwarming tale that will captivate the entire family.
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Ella Enchanted

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    Anne Hathaway is the cheery spark in this glitzy girl's fantasy story from screenwriters Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith ("Legally Blonde").

    Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
    05/04/09
    Cole Smithey
    ColeSmithey.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
    04/29/09
    Felix Vasquez Jr.
    Cinema Crazed
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
    10/18/08
    Urban Cinefile Critics
    Urban Cinefile

    The Narrator begins and ends the story talking about how fairy tales transport us to another place, but the sad fact is that Ella lets us stay right where we are.

    Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
    09/22/06
    Peter T. Chattaway
    Christianity Today
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    06/24/06
    Time Out
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
    04/01/06
    Empire Magazine
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    12/06/05
    Film Threat
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
    07/21/05
    Houston Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
    12/18/04
    Matthew Turner
    ViewLondon
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
    12/14/04
    BBC
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Avoids a misstep common among girl-empowerment flicks, which often emasculate the male lead to make the heroine truly heroic… manages to make both leads appealing.

    Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | comment Comment
    09/16/04
    Steven D. Greydanus
    Decent Films Guide

    The idea of mixing the modern with the medieval is a dubious Mulligan's stew -- and annoys quickly.

    Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
    08/08/04
    Harry Haun
    Film Journal International

    'El público seguramente quedará encantado por la inocencia, el humor y la magia de una película a la que seguramente el tiempo dará el lugar que merece.'

    Full Review Source: Moviola | comment Comment
    07/20/04
    Jorge Avila Andrade
    Moviola

    Mesmo pecando por ser convencional demais, este é um filme charmoso e bem-intencionado – e certamente fará grande sucesso entre as crianças.

    Full Review Source: Cinema em Cena | comment Comment
    06/17/04
    Pablo Villaca
    Cinema em Cena

    A thoroughly charming performer with a bracing freshness about her that carries the film, [Hathaway] establishes credible chemistry with Brit thesp Dancy.

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    04/27/04
    David Rooney
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    A sweet little anachronistic musical fairy tale along the lines of 'Shrek.'

    Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
    04/27/04
    Robert Roten
    Laramie Movie Scope

    Someone should tell O’Haver and the gaggle of writers it took to write this unenchanted mess that updated doesn’t have to mean washed-up and dumbed-down.

    Full Review Source: Metro Times (Detroit, MI) | comment Comment
    04/23/04
    Anita Schmaltz
    Metro Times (Detroit, MI)

    It looks tiring for a movie to flaunt its sense of irony as eagerly as Ella Enchanted while remaining so naive.

    Full Review Source: Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) | comment Comment
    04/22/04
    Mark Palermo
    Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

    Looks an awful lot like "Shrek," down to the funky closing dance sequence.

    Full Review Source: Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) | comment Comment
    04/22/04
    Audrey Rock-Richardson
    Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)

    An overcalculated fusion of Shrek and The Princess Bride with all the smarts replaced by smartass.

    Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
    04/20/04
    Ty Burr
    Boston Globe
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
     
     
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