The Hawk

Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: Entertainment

Christina Ricci falls victim to an ancient curse that gives her the nose of a pig.

"I like myself the way that I am!"

This is the message "Penelope" sends to its audience. A charming, light-hearted tale of love and self-discovery, "Penelope" takes the genre of "fairy-tale" head on. While the film opens with the fateful words, "Once upon a time," "Penelope" is anything but your predictable pretty princess-meets handsome prince story.

Penelope Wilhern (Christina Ricci) is a wealthy, young socialite who falls victim to an age-old curse placed upon her family: she is born with the face of a pig. Her distraught parents Jessica (Catherine O'Hara) and Franklin (Richard E. Grant) keep her hidden away in their mansion until they can find a high-society "blue-blood" man to marry Penelope and break the curse.

Unfortunately, this is easier said than done; every man attracted to Penelope because of her prominent social status and sizable dowry flees when he catches a glimpse of her snout. Just when Penelope loses hope that she will find a man who won't run away at the sight of her, handsome Max (James McAvoy) wins her heart with his charming wit and friendly demeanor. Hired by publicity-hungry tabloid writer Lemon (Peter Dinklage) to obtain pictures of the pig-faced girl, Max finds himself uncannily falling for the mysterious yet sweet Penelope. However, a gambling addiction and ulterior reasons that are later revealed lead him to refuse marriage to Penelope, devastating them both.

Unable to cope with this latest betrayal, Penelope escapes the confines of her house and ventures out into the world, finally on her own. There, she meets the free-spirited Annie (Reese Witherspoon) and embarks on a journey that leads her to realize that true happiness comes from loving and accepting yourself for who you are on the inside.

This movie is truly successful in its ambition to create a wholesome story with a deep-set moral combined with relatable and loveable characters. The audience is immediately drawn to the character of Penelope, a lonely girl who feels the pain of heartbreak and rejection. What young girl could not relate to such a character? Her sweetness and good-hearted nature, coupled with her self-actualization at the end of the film, give this character true depth and shows her growth. Ricci is shockingly charming in this film; the demureness of Penelope seemed to rub off on her, and she came across very soft and sweet, unlike her previous roles in films like "The Addams Family," "Sleepy Hollow," and "Monster." Ricci's performance was enjoyable, and she brought Penelope to life with a fresh, youthful vigor that showcased a sensitive side of the outspoken actress that was extremely flattering.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools