A Cinderella Story (2004) Movie Information:

A Cinderella Story (2004) Directed by: Mark Rosman A Cinderella Story (2004) Written by: Leigh Dunlap, Alyson Fouse A Cinderella Story (2004) Cast: Hilary Duff, Chad Murray, Brenda Song, Brad Bufanda, Jennifer Coolidge, Julie Gonzalo, Regina King, Dan Byrd, Madeline Zima, Lin Shaye

A Cinderella Story (2004) U.S. Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures A Cinderella Story (2004) U.K. Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures

Our Rating: User Rating:  Log in to rate this movie

A Cinderella Story (2004) Synopsis:

High school senior, Sam Montgomery, lives at the beck and call of her self-obsessed step-mother, Fiona, and her sinfully wicked step-sisters, who treat her more like a servant than a member of the family. With her sights set on attending Princeton, Sam finds her less-than-sparkling social life wonderfully complicated when she meets her prince charming online. However, when her anonymous cyber soul mate turns out to be her high school's über-popular quarterback Austin Ames, Sam makes a mad dash back to reality, leaving her cell phone behind just before the clock strikes midnight. Fearing rejection if her secret is revealed, Sam dodges Austin's relentless efforts to discover the identity of his princess. Will Sam let fear hold her back, or will she find the courage to be herself and claim the life she's always wanted? Her chance at "happily ever after" depends on it.

A Cinderella Story (2004) Movie Review:

Living in the attic of a wicked stepmother’s (Coolidge) house, Sam (Duff) was completely exploited by her and her ugly stepsisters. She longed for the day that she would escape to a far away land and finally meet her Prince Charming. Unfortunately this wasn’t some fairy tale but the sad story of Sam’s modern life in L.A. but dreams can really come true, can’t they?

Adapting a classic fairy tale into a modern setting isn’t the most original idea but for its target audience, A Cinderella Story works quite well.

Any girls from ten years old upwards will love this movie because it blatantly panders to everyone one of the their romantic whims. There is a kind and romantic prince figure that doesn’t want to be the star but a writer with his own dreams. There is a girl that no one takes any notice of (Even though she is extremely cute), which, given a makeover, will become a princess. Of course after some adversity they will live happily ever after and prove that dreams do come true.

Hilary Duff is a talented young starlet that just loves these sugary sweet roles. She is the perfect teen idol, friendly and not stupidly beautiful so that every girl can connect with her. This is a role that she has got down to a tee but it is getting to the point that all her roles are starting to blend into one. Can she actually play anything else or is Hilary Duff destined to fade into obscurity as soon as she hits her 20s.

Chad Michael Murray is perfectly fine as love interest Austin, but he does really have much to do other than be the object of Hilary’s affections. Julie Gonzalo fairs abit better as the bitchy Shelby, the most popular girl in school and Austin jealous ex-girlfriend. Dan Byrd is the slightly too camp best friend that we have to believe is not gay and is destined to be with Shelby (in his own mind anyway). Andrea Avery and Madeline Zima are suitably over-the-top as the ugly sisters Gabriella and Brianna.

Jennifer Coolidge steals the show as the dastardly stepmother Fiona. She is everything you’d expect from a power hungry, self-serving wicked stepmother and more, as she spends her time spending her profits on plastic surgery and expensive gift. This is Coolidge at her comedic best making you think that she is too good for a film like this.

A Cinderella Story hits all the right notes for its target audience. The handsome prince, the adorable love story, the boo-able villains and the happy ending are all here for them to enjoy. For everyone else, if they find this glass slipper then they probably just put it back where they found it and run away.

Our Rating: User Rating:  Log in to rate this movie

A Cinderella Story (2004) review written by: Jamie Kelwick