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ABOUT THE MOVIE
Penelope
* * 1/2 (out of four)
Stars: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Reese Witherspoon
Director: Mark Palansky
Rating: PG for thematic elements, some innuendo and language
Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes.
Opens Friday nationwide
By Claudia Puig, USA TODAY A agreeable but slightly bland Christina Ricci stars in a contemporary fairy tale about overcoming a curse and accepting oneself. But that ground has been covered more entertainingly through the Shrek franchise. Though the pellicle has a strong cast, humor and a satirical be conscious of on celebrity culture, the story is spotty.
Penelope is born with a silver spoon in her mouth but a cursed approbation, expressions of gratitude to a vengeful ravish. She sequesters herself in her parents’ estate and stays buried in books and music. Her mother (Catherine O’Hara) is determined to lift the curse, which can happen only if Penelope finds love.
CLIP: Take a peek at ‘Penelope’
A tabloid reporter (Peter Dinklage) hires Max (James McAvoy) to pose as a wooer. Max and Penelope bond, but he pulls out of the deal. Upset, she ventures out, meeting the free-spirited Annie (Reese Witherspoon).
While uneven, this Ugly Duckling redux is hipper and funnier than a Disney movie, and the positive intimation to young girls can’t be discounted.
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