One day Anne Hathaway will look back on Ella Enchanted and admit publicly that it was the most embarrassing movie she's ever made. How could she not? This movie's a joke! I can understand that perhaps while reading the script, a person could visualize that this movie would turn out to be one of those dashing period pieces. I wasn't expecting a Merchant-Ivory film (Ella Enchanted comes from a kid's book after all), but this movie turned a perfectly good book into a 1970s nightmare. During the last few minutes, the actors inexplicably start a song and dance number to Elton John's Don't Go Breakin' My Heart and Anne Hathaway dances around in a miniskirt and go-go boots. I shouldn't have been surprised at the disco-themed ending because throughout the movie, even the special effects looked like they were done in the 1970s. Though I must admit that Mary Poppins cleaning up the nursery in 1964 looked more convincing than the giants in Ella Enchanted. I feel sorry for Anne Hathaway (she should have left this movie to lesser-talented starlets), but I weep most for Hugh Dancy, the handsome British actor who plays the prince. It's sad that in his first American movie, this classically trained stage actor is wearing leather stirrup pants and singing an Elton John song. Oh, the shame!
Review of Ella Enchanted
