Movie Review - Penelope

Back in the day, a LONG long time ago, a man of royalty fell in love with a lowly servant girl. Obviously, he couldn't marry her, so he broke her heart and the girl's mother who was a witch, put on a curse on his entire family line stating that the first born girl would have a face of a pig and the only way to break the curse would be for a blue blood to declare true love for her.

As luck would have it, only sons were born for the longest time until finally when Penelope came along. Penelope's parents were highly publicized in everything they did, but once Penelope was born with a pig's face, as the curse had warned would happen, they shielded her from everyone around and Penelope grew up having to be home schooled and having to make her own friends out of dolls and puppets.

When she became of age, it was her mother's insistence to marry off her daughter as soon as possible so that they could end this curse once and for all. From behind a one-way mirror, Penelope would talk to and interrogate potential husbands to be and then when she felt it was time and that this one might be the one, she would show herself to him, but each time as soon as the boy would see her face, he would run out the door away from her.

Finally frustrated enough, Penelope runs away from home and with a scarf around her face to hide her pig snout, she sees the world for the first time and enjoys interacting with other people. She passes out from having one too many beers and in order to give her CPR, someone takes off the scarf and now everyone knows that she has a pig's snout and while people are afraid of her at first, she becomes accepted for who she is and learns that it's not what you look like on the outside, it's who you are on the inside.

This was a sweet fairytale story. Because of the cynical person that I am, not for a second would I ever think that this kind of love could really exist. But it's a cute story nonetheless. Christina Ricci does a really great job playing Penelope and the whole time you're looking at her face, you're really just staring at her beautiful brown eyes and her gorgeous long flowing hair and peaches and cream complexion. Her pig snout is nothing super hideous and she's not too fat or too skinny, so except for that one tiny flaw on her face, she is quite the looker and would be quite the catch for any guy. And that would just be for the shallow ones. She also has a great personality and a confidence about her that would surely attract any man.

I will definitely be buying the dvd when it comes out. Very good story. Satisfying ending. Laughs throughout, tears sprinkled here and there. Oh, and there is one scary scene. Especially if you're not ready for it, it will take you aback. A few of the teenagers sitting in the back actually screamed. Otherwise, it could be a cute family film with a nice moral at the end....if you love yourself for who you are, your true love will find you.

And not that it has any bearing on my opinion of the movie, but Penelope was produced by Reese Witherspoon....and she plays a bit part as the friend and I think she does a great job. I tend to think that Reese is also an over the top actor, but she was toned down for this part and her performance was enjoyable.

Probably not for everyone's taste, but if you like the ugly duckling/swan stories like I do, then this should be added to your list of must-sees.

Vixy :]