Miramax Films
Presents
ELLA ENCHANTED

Directed by Tommy O’Haver

Produced by Jane Startz

Executive producers Su Armstrong, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein and Julie
Goldstein

Screenplay by Laurie Craig, Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith, and Jennifer
Heath & Michele J. Wolff

Based on the book by Gail Carson Levine

Cast: Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Cary Elwes, Aidan McArdle, Joanna Lumley,
Lucy Punch, Jennifer Higham, Minnie Driver, Jimi Mistry, Vivica Fox, Patrick
Bergin, and Eric Idle as the chief story-teller and narrator.

Anne Hathaway and Hugh Dancy. Photo credits:
David Appleby.  Courtesy of Miramax Films.  

ELLA ENCHANTED “Ella" is a humorous Cinderella-type fantasy-adventure filled movie, with ogres and elves, giants
and wicked stepsisters, with a modern twist.  It kind of reminded me of "Shrek," in its modern themed storyline.

The story begins with the birth of Ella of Frell (Anne Hathaway of “The Princess Diaries”).  All babies are given a fairy’
s “gift” at birth from their fairy godmother.   Ella's fairy godmother (Vivica A. Fox) is kind of wacky and gives her the
gift of obedience.  This becomes a curse to Ella as she is growing up.  This spell is only know by Ella's mother, Mandy
(Minnie Driver) Ella’s Nursemaid/Amateur Spell-caster and of course her fairy godmother.   When she is playing with
other children and they tell her to do something she does.  This gets her into a lot of trouble.  Ella's life becomes out-of
her control and, becomes even worse after Ella's mother passes away.  Her father (Patrick Bergin) who does not know
about the spell gets married again.  

Following in the style of "Cinderella," he marries a woman who is only interested in money.    In walks the wicked
stepmother, Dame Olga (Joanna Lumley of “Absolutely Fabulous”), and two mean stepsisters, Hattie (Lucy Punch) and
Olive (Jennifer Higham).  They of course treat Ella very mean...life gets even worse for Ella when the stepsisters find
out about the curse by accident.   Hattie (the devious stepsister/President of the Prince Char Fan Club) and Olive (the
dimwitted stepsister/kleptomaniac) now have Ella do all kinds of things against Ella's will.

Ella decides she has had enough.  She sets out in search of her fairy godmother to take back the gift of obedience.  She
must now go alone, only armed with a talking book for directions, into the forest.  She encounters elves, ogres, giants,
Prince Charmont (Hugh Dancy) and Sir Edgar (Cary Elwes) evil uncle and acting King.  She also finds something she
had not looked for love.

She meets several people along the way as she tries to find her fairy godmother and some follow her on her journey, a
kind of Dorothy in the "Land of OZ."  

One character she meets is an Elf (Aidan McArdle) who wants to be a lawyer.  McArdle is very good and very funny in
the movie.  The part just fit well in the storyline and brought a lot of humor to the movie.  

During her journey to the Kings’ castle, she also meets up with Prince Char.   The adventures on their journey make
for some very funny scenes.

There are also some great musical numbers that are funny, but also performed well by Anne Hathaway.   Hathaway was
excited about playing Ella, but she was shy about the musical numbers. “Tommy O’Haver had seen me on Broadway in
‘Carnival,’ and I sang quite a bit in that so he thought I should sing a song as Ella. I don’t actually think of myself as a
singer,” she explains. “He really had to twist my arm and convince me I should sing in the film. And he did by choosing
such an irresistible number: Queen’s ‘Someone To Love.’ I’m not quite sure if I’m Freddy Mercury, but I did my best!”
The songs fit well in this humorous storyline.  

The first dance number is Queen’s “Someone to Love,” this is just the funniest scene.  Ella is in the land of Giant’s and
she is told to sing and she cannot stop.  It ends with everyone joining in and the Elf trekking along with Ella falls for a
lady giant.

The finale of the film ends with the Elton John’s hit “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”  The entire cast of the movie joins
in and it is just the cute and a fun number.  I don’t want to give too much away about the finale as it could ruin some
audience-members enjoyment of the movie.