Have Courage and Be Kind | Cinderella Review

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I was provided complimentary tickets to preview this movie.  I was not compensated in any way for this review and all thoughts are my own.

I went to see the live action remake of Cinderella this week  in an advanced screening.  There’s a lot to say about the movie- but to get to the point: go see it and take your kids.

The new live action Cinderella is the perfect movie for girls who believe in the grand Happily Ever After.

Most of us know the story:  a young girl loses her father and is left to grow up with a wicked step mother and her two mean-girl step sisters.  With the help of her animal friends and a gentle Fairy Godmother, she experiences one night of amazing before it’s all dashed again at midnight.  The fairytale doesn’t end there, of course.  Her Prince finds her with the help of the glass slipper she left behind and they live happily ever after.

This is the Cinderella of our youth.  It’s also essentially the story that the live action remake (in theaters TODAY!) follows.

With some charming additions.

As in Prince Charming.

He’s adorable.

I wanted to hug him through the screen.  My daughter reminded me that I was married and I should only want to hug Daddy.

Fair enough.

But Prince Charming is totally going on the list as a back up.

Everything in this film is gorgeous: the actors, the backgrounds, the costumes and oh my word, the shoes!

I’ll admit that change scares me.  When people start talking remakes I get a little freaked out!

Cinderella was my favorite Walt Disney movie as a child and into my adulthood- I even named my dog Ella after the title character. I had concerns that my favorite would be changed too much or even – gasp– ruined!

This did not happen.  Every actor and every scene had us enthralled.  Claire and I simply loved this fairytale.

There were some minor changes, but changes I felt gave more depth to the movie and the story.

My favorite change from the original was getting to know the parents: Ella’s mom and dad as well as the King are given ample screen time for us to fall in love with the parent/child relationships.

They ring true. These parents all cared exceedingly for their children.  There is true loss even for the audience as we witness their passing(s).

When asked to describe the movie I keep using the same word: it’s sweet.  It’s light and sweet and lovely.

Yes, even with the parents passing away (spoiler alert?  Nah- I think we all know how this story goes!) it’s STILL sweet and lovely.  The deaths are not presented in a scary or frightful way at all and lend meat to the back story.

Oh- and the dresses!  THE Wedding dress of my dreams is featured in this Cinderella.  I swooned when I saw it on the big screen.  I need this in my closet.  We ALL need this in our closets.

I could go on and on about the costumes- expect to see some awards coming their way!

My only slight disappointment in the movie came from the Step Sisters.

They were just okay.  They were mean-funny and played their parts well enough.  I don’t fault the actresses here- I think their direction was just a smidge off.

We’ve come to expect them to be over the top- and they certainly were not in this edition.  And I kinda wanted some of that.

Cate Blanchett is flawless, as always.  Even though we are supposed to dislike her, I wanted more Step Mother.

She’s just that good.

The message Ella grows up with is one we can all embrace:  have courage and be kind.  There is nothing in this sweet fairytale that should keep your family from seeing the movie together.

I’ve got to get this off my chest.  There’s a blog out there giving something like “7 reasons I won’t take my daughter to see Cinderella“.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course.

So here’s mine, said with courage: those reasons are all poppycock and hogwash and whatever other polite term you want to insert here.  I was a little upset that such a negative review was posted before she had even seen the movie.

I’ll also try to be kind, but there’s no easy way to say it.  That blog is click-bait (what bloggers do when they just want to seem controversial and get some hits).   If you’ve read it, ignore it, and read the other reviews by parents who’ve SEEN the movie to decide if this is  appropriate for your family.

Have you seen the new Cinderella?  What was your favorite part?

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