Anne Hathaway returns for another Disney movie entitled “Ella Enchanted” based on the award winning novel by Gail Carson Levine. Ella is a young Lady who was given the gift of obedience at birth. Great for parents, not great for her, as she is magically forced to obey any order she is given. She tells no one about her “gift” and the only one who knows is her fairy godmother Mandy (Minnie Driver). When Ella’s father remarries some years after her mother’s death, she then must deal with her evil stepmother and two nasty stepsisters. Ella lives in fear that her new family will discover her gift and use it to their advantage.
In a subplot, Ella and her best friend are also campaigning for civil rights for such creatures as ogres and other fairy tale type creatures who are all being made to move to the woods by the prince regent (Cary Elwes). She finds the discrimination unfair and decides to tell the prince-in-waiting, Prince Charmont (Hugh Dancy), exactly how she feels even though every other girl her age is in love with him. But Ella finds the prince charming and not at all who she thought he was. They soon become friends and Ella finds herself falling for him. But first she must find a way to break the spell upon her. With the help of an enchanted book given to her by her fairy godmother, Ella sets out in the world to find the fairy that gifted her with obedience.
Ella Enchanted is fine for the family to watch together, but was a disappointment after reading the book. The best parts of the book were made campy (Ella, at one point, sings “Somebody to Love” by Queen and other popular songs…completely out of place). Girls will undoubtedly love the movie. If it hadn’t had the book preceding it, I probably would have enjoyed it more. However, I’d encourage them to read the book as well. In the book, Ella is a strong, independent and smart girl. In the movie, Ella is sweet and smart, but lacks some of the strength that she has in the book. In the book, the ending is quite a bit different as well, for Ella must find her own inner strength to defeat her curse and save someone she loves. So, while I do recommend the movie as one the family can watch together, I also recommend the book as well.
Ella Enchanted is rated PG for some crude humor and language.