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Holistic Guidance - Penelope
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List Price: $25.99
Our Price: $19.99
Your Save: $ 6.00 ( 23% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Summit Entertainment
Starring: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, Reese Witherspoon, Peter Dinklage
Directed By: Mark Palansky
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0025195037952
Format: AC-3
Label: Summit Entertainment
Manufacturer: Summit Entertainment
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Summit Entertainment
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2008-07-15
Running Time: 89
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 2008-02-29
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Editorial Reviews:
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Taking cues from Beauty and the Beast and Cyrano de Bergerac, director Mark Palanksy debuts with a slight, if fanciful confection. Produced by Reese Witherspoon and written by Leslie Caveny, Penelope begins with the phrase, "Once upon a time...," making it clear the proceedings owe more to fantasy than reality. Due to a family curse, Ricci's sweet-natured heiress sports a pig snout instead of a normal nose. Since surgery isn't an option--it would sever her carotid artery--her parents (Christopher Guest favorite Catherine O'Hara and an underused Richard E. Grant) hide her from the world for 25 years. Penelope can only break the spell through "one who will love her faithfully," but none of the local bluebloods will have her. One fateful day, while her face is hidden, she meets musician-turned-gambler Max (Atonement's James McAvoy in a winning performance). Sparks fly, until she finds he's only cozying up to her on orders from tabloid reporter Lemon (The Station Agent's Peter Dinklage), so Penelope runs away from home. The city she enters looks much like modern-day London--Amélie's Michel Amathieu served as cinematographer--except most everyone speaks with an American accent (then again, the film is a fable). The aspiring horticulturist befriends spunky courier Annie (Witherspoon) and reconnects with Max, who harbors secrets of his own. Once people become accustomed to her unconventional looks, Penelope's future starts to brighten. Like Enchanted, Palanksy's first feature gives the romantic comedy a refreshing--and empowering--fairytale twist. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Penelope
Comment: I watched this with my nieces and their aunts and my mother....every age group loved it and it was bittersweet--i think we all feel like penelope at some point in our life
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very cute !
Comment: This movie was so much fun to watch. If you had a bad day, pop this movie in and enjoy the ride... I promise that you will feel better afterwards.
Reese Witherspoon in an interesting and different role as usually, Christina Ricci as the "adorable" Penelope and James McAvoy as the blue-eyed guy, every "Cinderella" would like to get...
Absolutely delightful and uplifting !
Customer Rating:
Summary: Penelope
Comment: It was an awesome movie. Humorous, heart-warming and an all-around great story! Wish I had bought the special edition one.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great for the whole family
Comment: My boyfriend and I both loved this movie. It had a great story line, great acting and it was funny. It's a movie the whole family can watch together.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Not quite there
Comment: To begin, I am sorry to say that this film was something of a letdown for me. I am proud to admit that I am a pathetic addict of cutesy fairy-tale movies, the more over-the-top and sing-songy, the better. I think that is where "Penelope" failed me. In my eyes, it never quite reached it's disgustingly adorable potential while I sat in the theatre, enjoying the movie, but still waiting for some big grandiose scene that would cause all cynics to roll their eyes. I waited and waited, but nothing ever came beyond pretty decent. And really, this is a story that should have worked. Great idea, great actors. What made it so "just all right"?
Really, if you are going to make a modern fairy tale about a girl with the face of a pig, you might as well go all the way. It seemed as if they were afraid of making it too cheesy, too cute. Well, boys, that is what the intended audience WANTED! The beginning was good and flamboyant, the ending satisfying for all hopeless romantics. It was the middle that was just too ordinary for me. I wanted to feel the passion at new world. I wanted to like the romance! But it never grabbed me the way it should have.
Still, thankfully, the basic formula was good and that was the saving grace here. There have been several fairy tales throughout folklore history involving a girl switching her own head for that of a pig or some other animal, so I was happy with that. True to fairy tale form, she was "locked in a tower"--actually just living comfortably at home while the rest of the world believed she had died as an infant. There is the line of suitors whilst Penelope waits for Prince Charming.
Then, as befits inspiring modern-day girls, Penelope gets sick of waiting around to be rescued from her curse and sets out into the world. I admit, the scene where she pulls open the too-familiar gate of her home to reveal a glittering city scene did bring a tear to my eye.
And, of course, we get the good, inspiring message and I certainly can't complain about that.
The acting was also good. I have a soft spot for Christina Ricci and her naive beauty, which made her perfect for the role as Penelope; she was a perfect modern-day cursed princess. I realize that Catherine O'Hara bothers some people, but frankly her zaniness entertains me. The rest of the crew certainly held their own.
So, yes, I did enjoy this movie and I hope multiple DVD viewings will make it worm its way into my heart. After all, there is plenty to love about "Penelope" and its positive message.
But it never gave the bang I was looking for.
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