Penelope"" is not a movie for the jaded and the cynical. If you walk into this modern fairy tale with an ounce of sarcasm, you may find yourself checking your watch more than you'd like. The film may have its fair share of issues, but when approached with the kind of innocence a fairy tale requires, ""Penelope"" is a nice enough movie to see while waiting for the summer blockbuster season.
Christina Ricci plays the eponymous character, born with the nose of a pig because of a century-old curse on her wealthy family. It's said that her curse will be broken when ""one of her own says he can love her until death do they part."" Naturally, this leads to a montage as Penelope's mother, played by Catherine O'Hara, imports society's finest blue-blooded bachelors in hopes that one doesn't run from her daughter. One day, one of the candidates - played by James McAvoy - doesn't - he's been hired by a sleazy paparazzo to get a picture of Penelope. After escaping her estate, Penelope meets a delivery girl (played by Reese Witherspoon) who exposes her to the wonders of the world outside her attic. What ensues is a story of betrayal, discovery and self acceptance, as Penelope tries to break the spell on her own.
There's nothing great about ""Penelope,"" but there's definitely enough to keep the film entertaining. The script, written by an ""Everybody Loves Raymond"" alum, is cute without being edgy, but has some plot holes. The setting of the film, for instance, is still something of a mystery, Penelope and her family speak with American dialects and the film gives several well-known European actors, like McAvoy and Nick Frost, American accents. However, it also seems like most of the extras and townspeople around ""Anonymous City"" speak with British accents.
Ricci, McAvoy and Witherspoon are all too talented to look visibly bored on film, but to say they look inspired is overstating it a bit. Each turns in a credible performance, but each has done better in the past. O'Hara, most well-known for her work in Christopher Guest's ""Best in Show"" and ""Waiting for Guffman,"" tries to play her character for laughs, but in the context of the film comes off as more than a little cruel.
Director Mark Palansky, in his first major release, gives the film an interesting look. The film is beautiful to watch, and he makes even the most ordinary spaces look vibrant. Palansky makes the film accessible for younger and older audiences alike, taking the fairy tale trope and giving it a modern spin that will keep adults interested, though it is clearly aimed at a younger audience.
Is ""Penelope"" a perfect film? Is it for everyone? No and no. But it's a great diversion and a cute film in a season that is so often a dumping ground for awful films. ""Penelope"" is some pig in a time when a lot of its competition is already burnt bacon.
