More tart than sweet, this contemporary fairy tale provides a worthy vehicle for the fearless Christina Ricci.
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02/28/08
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Penelope (2008)
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Reviews Counted:121
Fresh:61
Rotten:60
Average Rating:5.5/10
Consensus: Though Penelope has a charming cast and an appealing message, it ultimately suffers from faulty narrative and sloppy direction.
Theatrical Release:Feb 29, 2008 Wide
Box Office: $9,841,968
Synopsis: Like Tim Burton's EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and the TV show PUSHING DAISIES, PENELOPE is a modern fairy tale, complete with candy colors and whimsical cinematography. PENELOPE begins with a... [More]
Starring: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, Reese Witherspoon
Director: Mark Palansky
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Reviews for Penelope
Penelope is an odd concoction -- a witch's gentle brew of modern-day fairy tale, feather-light romance and slapstick comedy. It's not a knockout potion, but it goes down smoothly and is harmless enough to serve to the kids.
02/29/08
The most successful films in this genre rely heavily on production design, but unfortunately director Palansky decides to play it fairly straight here. Luckily, the film has an interesting story, for which all credit should go to writer Leslie Caveny.
01/18/08
Penelope is adorable and easy to watch thanks to the charms of its leads Ricci and McAvoy. But it's too much a mainstream Hollywood product and not enough of a spunky indie spirit to really win audiences over.
07/09/08
There is an underlying sweetness to Penelope, a root-for-her vibe that's only slightly diluted by the predictable story.
02/28/08
If you're looking for something a little bit offbeat, Penelope won't send you diving out any windows to escape its quirky humour and gentle moralizing.
02/20/08
If all of Penelope were as good as the first five minutes, we'd have a classic on our hands.
02/29/08
Penelope is a fairy tale that will leave parents just as engrossed as their kiddies.
02/28/08
While uneven, this Ugly Duckling redux is hipper and funnier than a Disney movie, and the positive message to young girls can't be discounted.
02/29/08
"Penelope" is a new twist on an old fairy tale template that succeeds for the heartfelt performances of Ricci and James McAvoy.
06/08/07
Just downright lovely, a gorgeous fairy tale for children and grown-ups alike.
03/04/08
No offense intended, but a pig snout is very becoming on Christina Ricci.
02/27/08
Top Critic...one of the most interesting and flat-out entertaining films to play at this year's festival...
09/21/06
Penelope's brilliant cast carries the audience through of the film's minor iniquities and gives us a charming and delightful myth.
03/01/08
A rather delightful family-friendly fairy tale with a nice message and a fey, whimsical attitude.
02/28/08
This out-of-nowhere wonder charms from the first frame to the last, and joins Charlie Bartlett on the list of early-2008 films that are both wholesome and intelligent.
02/28/08
May not exactly be the belle of the ball, but this ugly duckling updating is certainly fetching enough to serve as enticing family entertainment.
02/27/08
Penelope is true fantasy. It asks the audience to believe that men would not want to do Christina Ricci just because she has a pig nose. I mean, come on, you're going to dump that curvy little body?
02/28/08
This is tricky material, but director Mark Palansky manages to find the right offbeat tone, drawing on the slightly surreal presentation we might expect from Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam or Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
02/29/08
'Penelope' is a sweet film that I rather enjoyed. It never hurts to be reminded that we should all be happy with who we are.
03/04/08
Latest News for Penelope
July 12, 2008:
With only a DNA witch's curse pig's snout compromising Ricci's otherwise exceedingly alluring physical assets, it doesn't make a lick of sense that prospective suitors are jumping out of windows after catching a glimpse of her disfigured beak. 
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February 28, 2008:
Box Office Guru Preview: Semi-Pro Set To Slam Dunk The Competition
A triumvirate of films opens this weekend, but all will bow to the power of the mighty Will Ferrell and his latest outrageous comedy, Semi-Pro. More...
February 28, 2008:
Critics Consensus: Semi-Pro is Semi-Good, Boleyn Girl Not Quite Movie Royalty
This week at the movies, we've got hapless hoopsters, snouted socialites, and scandalous siblings. What do the critics have to say? More...
February 28, 2008:
With only a DNA witch's curse pig's snout compromising Ricci's otherwise exceedingly alluring physical assets, it doesn't make a lick of sense that prospective suitors are jumping out of windows after catching a glimpse of her disfigured beak.
More...
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