Winner by a Nose!
by Flick Chick Vique Rojas
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Penelope roots out 4 &1/2 Red Vines for making a stunning silk purse. |
Okay, I’ll be honest. I didn’t know a thing about Penelope until I saw the poster for it at the theatre. I was intrigued by the cast of women. In my book Christina Ricci and Catherine O’Hara can do no wrong. But it was the promise of getting to see my new heartthrob James McAvoy that sealed the deal!
Well, even without the Scottish man of the hour this movie is just about the most charming, inventive movie to come my way in a very long time. There is so much to rave about that it’s hard to know where to start!
Once upon a time a girl from the wrong side of the tracks gets pregnant from her wealthy boyfriend. But when he marries someone more suitable the troubled young woman hurls herself over a cliff. From that moment on the family finds itself the recipient of a witch’s curse: the first female born into the family will look like a pig until someone from her own class accepts and loves her for who she is. Through many years and generations, the curse appears to be thwarted due to the fact that only male children are born. When the lone female finally comes along she is fine, so everyone assumes the curse is no more. There is a good reason for that but I won’t spoil it for you. Let’s just say when Christina Ricci as Penelope comes along, her birth brings the curse into full bloom.
The first few minutes of the movie illustrates this plotline with every bit of magic and wonder that has ever graced a Tim Burton movie. Except this isn’t a Tim Burton movie. It is the brainchild of fledgling director Mark Palansky, sitcom writer Leslie Caveny and producer Reese Witherspoon…. yes, Reese Witherspoon!
But the magic doesn’t end after the exposition. Instead, it unspools like so much golden thread, weaving a beautiful tapestry of life, love and self acceptance.
Catherine O’Hara provides much of the comic gold as an out of control mother, hell bent on finding love for her disfigured daughter so that the curse will be lifted. She means well but is truly a whack job. Christina Ricci is adorable and cute, pig nose and all. But she is not content to let a prosthetic run the show. Her portrayal of innocence, disillusionment, pain and ultimately defiance and acceptance will have you crying, sighing and smiling. I was a little shocked by James McAvoy’s appearance as a modern guy, as I realized all my exposure to him has been in period movies. It took some work to still find him attractive as he bore a striking resemblance to a co-worker but I managed to rise above my initial repulsion and continue my love fest for the actor! And whether he’s turn of the century guy or WWII guy or modern guy I have come to the conclusion that he makes an excellent ‘pounce’ guy. You know the kind who fights his true feelings or morays for so long that when he finally makes his move he ‘pounces’! Very exciting!
The real surprise of this movie is Reese herself. It takes a woman of complete confidence and healthy ego to sidestep the lead role and take on a small character part. Yet that is precisely what she did. As the producer she knew that she was better suited to not play the lead, giving her movie the best chance at success. And by casting herself in as a quirky Vespa riding courier, she got to show audiences a side of her acting skills that leading women rarely get to showcase.
This movie was made in 2006 and it never bodes well for a movie to sit on a shelf that long. But I am completely dumbfounded why that was the case with this movie. If this movie is any indication of what we can expect to see from future Reese Witherspoon productions, count me in. Way in!!!
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