Ella Enchanted (2004)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Tommy O'Haver

Writers (WGA):

Gail Carson Levine (novel)
Laurie Craig (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 April 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Get enchanted

Plot:

Ella is under a spell to be constantly obedient, a fact she must hide from her new step-family in order to protect the prince of the land, her friend for whom she's falling.

Plot Keywords:

Prince | Obedience | Quest | Curse | Ogre

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Nov. 14	4:00 PM	ABCF
Sun. Nov. 15	1:30 PM	ABCF

Cast

Anne Hathaway	...	Ella
Hugh Dancy	...	Char
Cary Elwes	...	Edgar
Aidan McArdle	...	Slannen
Joanna Lumley	...	Dame Olga
Lucy Punch	...	Hattie
Jennifer Higham	...	Olive
Minnie Driver	...	Mandy
Eric Idle	...	Narrator
Steve Coogan	...	Heston (voice)
Jimi Mistry	...	Benny
Vivica A. Fox	...	Lucinda
Parminder Nagra	...	Areida
Jim Carter	...	Nish
Patrick Bergin	...	Sir Peter

MPAA:

Rated PG for some crude humor and language.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA | Ireland | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #40090) | Malaysia:U | Netherlands:6 | Portugal:M/6 | Germany:o.Al. | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G | Finland:K-7 | Ireland:PG | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | UK:PG | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios - Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Several references are made to Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) including "It's only a scratch" and the line about rabbits rarely attacking anyone. Eric Idle, of course, is the narrator and one of the members of the Monty Python team.

Goofs:

Plot holes: At one point in a restaurant, Ella tries to convince Slannen to reveal his secret aspirations to her, and he tells her, "No, forget it." Following the film's premise that she must obey all orders that she receives, she should have literally forgotten what they were talking about. Yet she does not, and continues to nag the elf until he relents.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Fairy tales tell, as their labels imply / Stories of magic, of creatures that fly / With giants and dragons and ogres and elves / And inanimate objects that speak for themselves / There's romance and danger and plotting of schemes / There's good guys...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Ella Enchanted: A Red Carpet Premiere Special (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Let Me Entertain You

Great, entertaining film. A refreshing change to the 'polished' animated films at the mo'

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, it was clever, original and entertaining. The interesting opening scenes were great as they transported you to the fairytale world. I was very happy to see Eric Idle was the narrator and Anne Hathaway was brilliant and instantly likable as Ella, with Hugh Dancy the perfect handsome prince. The Elf (another familiar face- Dudley Moore in 'Not Only But Always') is wonderful as the sidekick. I also thought the story was very good, it was slightly predictable at first, but then there were some interesting twists, where I think the usual fairytale storyline was changed to great effect. The way the Fairytale land echoed aspects of home were amusing, with wooden escalators, taxi carriages… In a way, I liked it more than Shrek, because of the fact that it was less 'polished' and maybe more British. I would definitely recommend 'Ella Enchanted' to anyone who wants a fun and entertaining film.