Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Writer/director: Kay Cannon, Amazon Prime.
We all love a fairytale, especially those with happy endings! Cinderella is one of the most famous of them all. However, the latest film version is an entirely new telling of the story. In fact, it’s a daring take on the traditional tale you remember as a child.
The basic storyline is still the same: about a pure-hearted girl who is mistreated, gets a magical makeover and finds her prince and lives happily ever after. This is a modern movie musical – heavily laden with songs – from Kay Cannon (Pitch Perfect).
Stepping into the famous glass slippers is singer Camila Cabello, the founding member of the girl group Fifth Harmony. The heroine is ambitious, with big dreams of becoming a fashion designer and supporting herself so she no longer has to live in her stepmother’s basement.
Ella’s stepmother Vivian (played by Idina Menzel) is looking for a better life with her daughters, the obnoxious Malvolia (Maddie Baillio) and the self-absorbed Narissa (Charlotte Spencer). Crown Prince Robert (Nicholas Galitzine) doesn’t have many attributes, except he is good looking, loves Cinderella and sings well.
Playing King Rowan, Pierce Brosnan is overbearing, Minnie Driver as Queen Beatrice is annoyed, Tallulah Greive as Princess Gwen studies public policy and Billy Porter is flashy with a brief appearance as the Fabulous Fairy Godperson.
Get set to sing along as it features original songs and other popular tunes. The soundtrack includes Million to One and Somebody to Love, as well as,
covers of Madonna’s Material Girl, Jennifer Lopez‘s Let’s Get Loud and Queen’s Somebody to Love.
Cinderella reimagining has moments where the eternal story shines, and at other times, it’s jumbled with oddments of pop songs. The frenzied folly and imbalanced tones are awkward distractions from the genuine pleasures of this fantasy, comedy, romance and family musical.
