Rated PG for some mild action and rude humor.
Directed by Paul J. Bolger (First time director) and Yvette Kaplan (Beavis and Butt-Head Do America)
Starring the voices of: Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Andy Dick, Patrick Warburton and Sigourney Weaver
Seriously how many more of these lame, Shrek wanna-be movies will we have to endure?
In the latest offering, Happily N'Ever After, centers on Cinderella (Sarah Michelle Gellar) or Ella (I know…that’s so hip…how did they ever come up with that one) and her quest for prince charming (Patrick Warburton). The twists involve the underdog dishwasher (Freddie Prinze, Jr) who is in love with Ella, and her wicked stepmother (Sigourney Weaver) who has tipped the balance of power towards the dark side in Fairy Tale Land (not to be confused with Far Far Away). Now it's up to Ella and her crew to save the day.
The film opens with an Emperor’s New Groove rip off, do you remember the narration done by one of the main characters who does the “here I am” trick and then rewinds the movie so we all get caught up? Then there’s Munk (Wallace Shawn) and Mambo (Andy Dick) who are there to provide some funny lines…remember The Lion King’s Timon and Pumbaa? And the “updating” trick that made movies like Shrek, Hoodwinked and others so funny…just didn’t work with Ella and Rick.
I knew what I was getting when I put Happily N'Ever After in the DVD player, but I was still hoping it would be decent entertainment. Unfortunately with an overused story line and just average animation, it was a real disappointment.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There are a few things I thought were over the top. There is nothing so objectionable that made us shut it off, but honestly it’s just not that good of a movie.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
