DVD : Penelope [2007]

Rating: - Feel-good fairytale viewing for young and old alike
This is feel-good viewing at its best - a charming, modern fairytale with Christina Ricci expertly leading a very strong cast as Penelope, the girl born with the face of a pig thanks to an age-old family curse. She is supported by a host of familiar faces, including Reese Witherspoon in a brief but memorable appearance as Penelope's new-found friend. James McAvoy plays Penelope's would-be suitor, and is perfectly cast as the loveable rogue.

With themes of rejection and self-acceptance at its core, the film has a really wide appeal. Far-fetched but relevant, it makes for a really fun, warm hour and half of viewing.

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Rating: - An older fairy tale than you might think
The tale of 'Penelope' is an interesting modern twist on fairy story romances... with an emphasis on 'noses' rather than 'tails', as the title character (the first-born female in her bloodline since an ancestor betrayed a witch's kin) is the luckless recipient of a generations-old curse: and has the snout of a pig in place of a nose. To break the curse upon herself, Penelope must find and marry a blue-blood. But, much to her parents' consternation, Penelope - who, because of her deformity, has been hidden away from the world for her whole life - is more interested in forming friendships than she is in breaking the curse.
When a con-man turned suitor (McAvoy in dishevelled splendour) breaks her heart, Penelope sets out to discover the world for herself.

This is a charming film, with endearing performances from Christina Ricci, James McAvoy and Reese Witherspoon (as Penelope's friend in exile). However, although it is pitched as a fairy tale story and has a PG rating (and certainly doesn't merit anything more in regards to content), 'Penelope' is not ideal for the 6-10 year old audience I bought it for after seeing it advertised. I thought the film, though slow-moving and at times quite sophisticated (e.g. in some scenes 'Penelope' is shown implicitly getting rapidly drunk in a bar... using a straw under her face-concealing scarf) was enjoyable, but aimed more at over 10's/teenagers than younger kids.

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Rating: - This one GROWS on you.
For some time (almost 2 years) I have known about, and waited patiently for this Reese Witherspoon production; wondering if it ever would come to fruition on DVD in the U.K. On 12th August, I found it in a local Super-Market, and bought my copy there and then.

I have to say that my first thoughts when I watched it for the fist time were not very complementary. But, unusually for me after such thoughts, I let the film continue, watching it to the Happy Ending that it duly deserved. As I watched that first time, the film slowly "GREW ON ME", to the point where I couldn't walk away and forget it; I just HAD TO WATCH TO THE END.

It's a fable about a young (25-year-old) woman, Penelope, played by Christina Ricci (who I had never heard of until I watched this movie), bourne, under an ancient family curse, with a pig's snout for a nose: whoes potential Suiters all seem to have a great pair of legs for running away from her the moment she shows herself to them. All, that is, except one: a gambler employed by a news reporter to get a photograph of Penelope. After several visits to Penelope's home, the photograph is taken: but our gambling friend has, by then, fallen hopelessly in love with Penelope, and destroys the picture rather than have it published.

Penelope pleads with the gambler to marry her, promissing to kill herself if the curse is not broken. But her pleading is rejected, as the gambler knows he does not have the power to break the curse. After this, Penelope escapes the house that has been her prison, runs off to town where she meets and becomes great friends with Annie (Reese Witherspoon); but meets up, too, with the man she knows as Max, the gambler who rejected her. Max is also on hand when Penelope becomes engaged to marry the one person who has started all the bad publicity in the news-papers about her: something Max tries to put a stop to.

This film "GREW ON ME" as I watched it that first time; and has become a Nightly show for me now. I'm a succer for a good Rom-Com or Romantic Adventure: and this is Romantic Adventure AT IT ULTIMATE BEST.

Forget the SNOUT Miss Ricci carries for the majority of this movie. Just enjoy HER BEAUTY, some GREAT Acting by the entire cast, and what I like to think of as "A ROLLICKING GOOD YARN". Get to see this movie (only available on DVD). YOU'LL LOVE IT!

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Rating: - Sweet fairy tale - great performances from a talented cast
"Penelope" is the story of a high society girl, born with a pig's snout due to a curse. She is kept isolated by her excentric mother, who desperately tries to break the curse by finding a blue blood suitor for Penelope. This isn't easy, every man runs away after seeing Penelope's snout, until Max that is. Penelope and Max hit it off, but Max will not marry Penelope. After this rejection, Penelope breaks free into the world and goes exploring - and much follows...

"Penelope" is a sweet, little fairy tale about accepting yourself despite your pig's snout. The movie feature excellent actors and magnificant performances from all of them. The dialogue is rich and humorous. All in all, "Penelope" is the kind of movie that makes you sigh and smile and the kind of movie that will remain on my dvd-shelf for a long time and be watched again and again.

Louise

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Rating: - sweet
what a nice, adorable film, i certainly enjoyed this very much. I thought the cast was great, the story was great and the motto was great!!brill film which can be enjoyed again and again!!