It was slim pickings for childrens’ fare the other week when we went to the movies. The animation feature on offer was “Happily Never After” and let me tell you now, it was no “Shrek“.
It was adequate and passed the time but somehow didn’t feel fresh. This fractured fairytale is based on the stories of the Brothers Grimm where the wizard who controls all the “Happy endings” goes on holidays and the apprentice wizards lose control to Cinderella’s evil stepmother. Cinderella (Ella) starts out a damsel in distress, dreaming of the Prince who will sweep her off feet and save her from her miserable life. Her friend Rick, is the palace dishwasher. Ella sees Rick only as a friend, but Rick secretly loves Ella.
This is where I lost it… Oh please Cinderella ending up with the dishwasher rather than the prince? The prince a bumbling fool and not the kind generous and loving man of my dreams?I’m sorry, i like my fairy-tales the old fashioned way. You know, where the Prince is charming and not a bumbling fool. Yes the lesson of true love is important but I’m also the kinda gal that likes to dream and think about “what if” and to me, that’s what a good fairytale sound be all about.
The prince is meant to be an ideal, he’s not meant to be real and most girls know that when they are grown up. It still doesn’t stop us from hiring out “Pride and Prejudice” for the fifteenth time when we need a bit of cheering up and a chance to drool over our ideal man - Mr Darcy (tall, handsome, proud and with a great fortune - won’t mother be pleased).
Happily Never After
Director: Paul. J Bolger
Writer: Robert Moreland
Rating: 2 stars
