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Recycled Cinderella Story Casts A Spell
submitted by: Lisa D.
source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Date: August 3, 2001
By Ellen Futterman Of The Post-Dispatch
The Cinderella story has undergone many incarnations, a couple of them in director Garry Marshall's hands. First, there was "Pretty Woman," in which Julia Roberts' wholesome hooker finds true love - and ultimately a new life - with a multimillionaire john. Now comes "The Princess Diaries," in which an awkward American teen-ager learns that she is not only royal, but also charming, beautiful and potentially the savior of an entire, albeit fictitious, European nation.
Julie Andrews, who made her reputation on Broadway in the ultimate Cinderella story, "My Fair Lady," trades her original role as Eliza Doolittle for Henry Higgins. She's pure class here as Queen Clarisse Renaldi, the elegant noblewoman who must train her long-lost granddaughter, 15-year-old Mia Thermopolis of San Francisco, for her new station.
As Mia, newcomer Anne Hathaway makes a delightful transition from a gawky duckling to a graceful swan. Granted, she tries too hard in places, mugging for the camera to earn laughs. A scene in which she falls off a chair while learning to cross her legs regally looks forced; another, at a dinner party where she klutzes up the action, seems recycled.
But on the whole, Hathaway (who resembles a younger Julia Roberts) gives an engaging, winsome performance that young girls will enjoy, and older ones - especially those with an affection for schmaltz - will appreciate.
Of course, there's a Prince Charming - in this fable, he's a teen (Robert Schwartzman) who likes Mia even before her new identity emerges. Evil comes in the form of singer Mandy Moore, playing a wicked cheerleader who runs the popular crowd at Mia's high school. Rounding out the cast are Heather Matarazzo ("Welcome to the Dollhouse") as Mia's geeky best friend, Caroline Goodall as Mia's free-spirited mom, and Hector Elizondo, reprising his avuncular role in "Pretty Woman," this time in charge of the Queen's security detail.
Oh, did we mention the film is rated G and made by Disney? Did we need to?
"The Princess Diaries"
* (out of four)
Rated: G
Running time: 1:55
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