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Penelope is directed by Mark Palansky. The film stars
Christina Ricci (Addams Family, Casper), James McAvoy (Atonement),
Catherine O'Hara (Home Alone, Orange County), Reese Witherspoon
(Legally Blonde, Walk The Line), and Peter Dinklage (Underdog.)
Joey Talbot contributes the musical score. ***
The film was premiered September 8, 2006 at the Toronto
International Film Festival. Only now (as of February 29,
2008) is the movie getting an American release. And even
then, it's just a limited release. ***
Penelope follows the life of a 20-something girl who
is the victim of a curse placed on a wealthy family by a
witch. The otherwise-normal girl is forced to endure life
with a pig's snout instead of a conventional nose, which
has sent many a potential suitor running off into the streets,
shouting in terror. Eventually, she runs away from her sheltered
existence and overprotective parents, to explore the world
on her own. As she meets new friends and a potential lover
who doesn't run away, she begins to discover happiness -
while all the while her parents believe the only way she
can be happy is through an arranged marriage, which will
(hopefully) break her curse. ***
This is one of those movies, which despite its entertaining
qualities, will likely never get the proper credit due to
its poor distribution. It's taken a good year-and-a-half
for the movie to get released in America.... But with big-name
stars like Ricci and Witherspoon, why is this only getting
a limited release!? ***
Despite my initial doubts, this film won me over. The
story doesn't have a ton of surprises, and yet it still
gets the job done nicely. The great performances and unique
settings and scenery put the movie in a class of its own,
above similar movies. There are a lot of movies out there
that try to cater to families - but usually they fall flat
on all fronts, or only please the audience at one end of
the spectrum. Penelope is the rare movie that will please
nearly every audience, regardless of age or gender. ***
The performances are one of the greatest strengths
here. Christina Ricci's portrayal of the title character
is some of her finest work of recent years. Lonely and distraught
but never giving up hope despite the humiliating curse flung
upon her from birth, she makes this movie all her own. Another
great performance comes from Reese Witherspoon, who also
served as producer. Easily one of the most diverse and talented
actresses in modern cinema, she gives a certain charm to
the movie no one else ever would have been able to. Of course,
the undisputed best performance of the movie comes from
Catherine O'Hara. If you've seen either one of the first
two Home Alone movies, you'll know that she plays a paranoid,
obsessive parent like no one else - and here she takes that
role over-the-top. She got more laughs out of this reviewer
than any other character in the film, and it won't be long
into viewing that you see why. Also entertaining is Peter
Dinklage as an undercover reporter trying to dig up dirt
on Penelope, and James McAvoy as her potential love interest.
***
The other area in which this film really pleases is
its scenery. It's a strange hodgepodge of the old and new
worlds, that can't quite decide whether it's trying to be
America or England. It's an almost Tim Burton-esque atmosphere,
and it sets the movie apart from most of these "not so typical"
fairy tale type films. Some of the best set design and scenery
this reviewer has seen in a long time. ***
It's not a perfect movie, though. At times, the whole
thing just feels too over-the-top. Guys, let's be realistic
- would YOU run away screaming from Christina Ricci, even
if she had a pig's nose? I didn't think so. Also, in the
latter half, the film does tend to drag a bit, and shift
its focus from the journey of self-discovery to a satire
on popular culture. Not that this half of the film is even
flawed, but it's too big a jump in too little time. Still,
these issues certainly don't derail the film. ***
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