Ever After: A Cinderella Story . Tucson Weekly . 08-10-98

Ever After: A Cinderella Story

DIRECTED BY: Andy Tennant

REVIEWED: 08-10-98

Here's a welcome revision: a Cinderella that kicks butt. Sure, Drew Barrymore's character is neglected and mistreated, but she's no helpless little waif: In a pinch, she won't hesitate to deck her wicked stepsister (Megan Dodds) or throw the prince (Dougray Scott) over her shoulders and carry him away from danger. These sorts of touches, smartly handled by director Andy Tennant, make Ever After a delight--even for those of us who never thought we could thoroughly enjoy a Cinderella movie. I'm not sure how Tennant got it out of her, but Barrymore's performance is winningly effective, and surprisingly well-rounded. A political idealist with passion to spare, she earns the prince's respect until he realizes he needs to earn hers in return. Better still is Anjelica Huston, who plays the bitchy stepmother with a trace of complexity--you get the sense she's evil because it hurts to be nice, and you keep watching her face for signs of pain. Everything else about the movie turns out a shade more entertainingly than you'd expect, from the fate of the chubby stepsister (played by Heavenly Creatures' Melanie Lynskey) to the whimsical way Leonardo Da Vinci is integrated into the story. Battle on, Cinderella.

--Woodruff

Interviews
Ever After: A Cinderella Story

Full Length Reviews
Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Ever After: A Cinderella Story

Capsule Reviews
Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Ever After: A Cinderella Story

Other Films by Andy Tennant
Anna and the King

Film Vault Suggested Links
The Governess
High Art
Twilight of the Ice Nymphs

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