Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘Ella Enchanted’?

Ella Enchanted (2004)

tomatometer

50

Average Rating: 5.6/10
Reviews Counted: 114
Fresh: 57 | Rotten: 57

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

47

Average Rating: 5.7/10
Critic Reviews: 30
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 16

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

audience

62

liked it
Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 318,196

My Rating

Movie Info

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. 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. Ella's so-called gift, however, is obedience. This birthright proves itself to be quite the curse once Ella finds herself in the hands

Aug 24, 2004

$22.8M

Miramax Films

Cast

All Critics (123) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (58) | DVD (19)

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

April 27, 2004 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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

April 20, 2004 Full Review Source: Boston Globe | Comment
Boston Globe
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It had some creative touches, but I thought the special effects were kind of cheesy.

April 12, 2004 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | Comment
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

In its innocence, sweet heart and abundant wit, it has more going for it, by my accounting, than a dozen more expensive-looking films.

April 9, 2004 Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This all makes for good and entertaining fun, from the musical numbers of 1980s pop tunes to the flamboyant fight scenes. For a while. But you've seen this all before.

April 9, 2004 Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Mostly ... the film bubbles along happily.

April 9, 2004 Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | Comment
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Endearing, enduring, and lots of fun.

December 24, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

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

May 4, 2009 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | Comment
ColeSmithey.com

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.

September 22, 2006 Comment

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.

September 16, 2004 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | Comment
Decent Films Guide

Hey, it's better than the Shrek films.

August 17, 2004 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

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

August 8, 2004 Full Review Source: Film Journal International | Comment
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.'

July 20, 2004 Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Ella Enchanted

Great for little girls and whilst the art direction was brilliant, not much else was.

October 23, 2011
StarCrossedVoyager
Sophie Burgess

Super Reviewer

one of the best family film that has a lot of love , action and funny parts.

May 29, 2010
erika250
erika bruhns

Super Reviewer

    1. Hattie: Just admit you're stupid and don't know what you're talking about.
    2. Ella of Frell: I'm stupid and I don't know what I'm talking about.
    – Submitted by Junica R (48 days ago)

Latest News for Ella Enchanted

August 6, 2009:
Hugh Dancy Talks Adam - RT Interview
Confessions of a Shopaholic, Shooting Dogs, Ella Enchanted... If Hugh Dancy was in danger of being...

What's Hot On RT

Luis Guzman
Luis Guzman

What are his 10 best movies ever?

<em>Amazing Spider-Man</em>
Amazing Spider-Man

See the all-new action-packed trailer!

The Avengers!
The Avengers!

Five new Marvelous pictures

Total Recall
Total Recall

Unconventional Superheroes

Top Movie Quizzes

LEGO Mania: 2011 Best Picture Nominees
by natalie - 18,534 taken
created 12 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 44,349 taken
created 15 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 27,106 taken
created 15 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 27,607 taken
created 15 months ago
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Blog | Developers | Mobile