Cinderella Movie Review - A More Modern Take Entertains

In the new Cinderella on Amazon Prime Video, popular singer Camila Cabello plays Ella. You know the drill: has wicked stepmom Vivian (Idina Menzel) and two dorky stepsisters Anastasia (Maddie Baillio) and Drizella (Charlotte Spencer), is a servant kept in a basement, has design talent and wants to make dresses for a living… wait! What? Yes, Ella meets Prince Robert (Nicholas Galitzine) who is pretending to be a commoner, but is more interested in making her career work than finding a guy of her dreams. At the palace, Princess Gwen (Tallulah Greive) wants to make progressive changes for the good of the kingdom and is more suited to rule but is ignored. Will Ella get to have it all; a prince and career success?

Ella sings about her dream's successCourtesy of Amazon Studios

Note: Check song list at end of this review for all the tunes used throughout.

Better Life Dreams

In the basement of her family home, Ella (called Cinderella by her stepmom and stepsisters because she is usually covered with dirt from cleaning fireplaces) works on dress designs, a career goal.  Her only pals are three mice (played by James Corden, James Acaster and Romesh Ranganathan). Wanting a good life for herself and daughters, Vivian entertains their unsavory would-be suitor Thomas (Rob Beckett). She’ll even let Ella marry him… ewwww. At the palace, the prince is unhappy and dismisses yet another would-be bride. His dad King Rowan (Pierce Brosnan) is angry at him. He simply must have a queen if he’s to be king. Princess Gwen’s constructive ideas for the kingdom are ignored.

Royal family: Gwen, Beatrice, Rowan and Prince RobertCourtesy of Amazon Studios

Spotting Ella

From the palace balcony, Robert spots Ella in a crowd and is attracted but she quickly disappears. Robert demands of his dad that if he has to pick a mate at an upcoming ball, that all available ladies in the kingdom be invited. Hopefully, she’ll come. He dresses like a commoner and goes out, hoping to find her. Meanwhile, in the village, Ella spots an empty shop, dreams it could be hers and tries to sell the new dress she has made. People like it but think she stole it. She’s laughed at for wanting to be a businesswoman. Robert, in disguise, spots her and offers to buy the dress for three times what she is asking. She says okay. Hearing about the ball, she isn’t interested until he convinces her it could be a great place to meet rich, influential people to buy her dresses. He will meet her there. She buys fancy fabric with the money he gave her.

Cinderella designs dresses in the basementCourtesy of Amazon Studios

The Ball

Ella shows a new dress she has made to Vivian who tells her she can’t go to the ball. She is no longer available. Thomas has asked for her hand! Marry him or live in the street! Ella goes to sulk and a butterfly she has sheltered flies outside and turns into a fabulous fairy Godmother or Fab-G (Billy Porter) who sees one of her fantasy dress designs and makes it real along with some great glass heels. She’s off to the ball with the three mice as footmen. She’s told that the spell ends at midnight and only the guy she’s supposed to meet there will recognize her in the dress. At the ball, many princesses court prince Robert but he’s only interested in Ella. Where is she?

Fab-G the awesome fairy godmotherCourtesy of Amazon Studios

Ball Part 2

Ella arrives and visiting Queen Tatiana (Beverley Knight) notices her great dress and asks if Ella is available to be her personal designer and travel the world with her. Ella is to meet her in the village the next day. Thrilled, Ella is ready to leave when she realizes the stranger she met in town is actually the prince! He spots her and announces to the crowd how special and talented she is. His sister Gwen is wearing the dress he bought from her. She sees that he cares about her. They dance and, outside later, he asks her to be his Queen. But, royal duties would not make it convenient for her to continue her career. She loves him but says no and, leaving a shoe behind, runs when the clock starts striking midnight.  She and the mice barely make it into the woods before changing back.

At the ball, Ella sadly says no to the prince's proposalCourtesy of Amazon Studios

Sad Fate

King Rowan tells Robert that he must marry a princess Lara before week’s end. He can search for the owner of the slipper but that’s the deadline. Mom Queen Beatrice (Minnie Driver) tells the King he’s cruel. He used to know how to be in love. At home, Ella readies herself to meet Queen Tatiana and leave home for good. Vivian tells her about the girl at the ball who refused the prince and now he has to marry someone else. She finds the remaining glass slipper and realizes that Ella was the mystery girl. Vivian confides that women just can’t have their dreams with no consequence. She wanted to be a concert pianist and followed her dream only to lose her first husband. She didn’t want Ella to suffer the same fate so she can marry Thomas. He’s on his way.

Ella learns she has to marry the horrible ThomasCourtesy of Amazon Studios

Happy Ending?

The prince looks all over the kingdom for Ella but no luck. She is in a carriage with Vivian and the horrible Thomas but the mice help her escape so she can head for the village and her 4 PM appointment. Prince Robert runs into her on the way and proposes that he give up being King. Not his thing anyway. They’ll get married and he will go wherever she goes. Great! They kiss but will Ella make it to town in time to accept Queen Tatiana’s “job”? Who will rule the kingdom and will Vivian ever realize that women can have their dreams…and maybe a prince too?

Fairy Godmother starts the spellCourtesy of Amazon Studios

Songs:

1. "Rhythm Nation / You Gotta Be" – Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel & Cinderella Original Motion Picture Cast
2. "Million To One" – Camila Cabello
3. "The New Barry" – Ben Bailey Smith
4. "Somebody To Love" – Nicholas Galitzine & Cinderella Original Motion Picture Cast
5. "Material Girl" – Idina Menzel & Cinderella Original Motion Picture Cast
6. "Shot at the Crown" – Ben Bailey Smith
7. "Am I Wrong – Camila Cabello, Nicholas Galitzine, Idina Menzel & Cinderella Original Motion Picture Cast
8. "Million To One (Reprise)" – Camila Cabello
9. "Shining Star" – Billy Porter & Cinderella Original Motion Picture Cast
10. "Whatta Man / Seven Nation Army" – Nicholas Galitzine & Cinderella Original Motion Picture Cast
11. "Perfect" – Camila Cabello & Nicholas Galitzine
12. "Perfect (Reprise)" – Camila Cabello & Nicholas Galitzine
13. "Dream Girl – Idina Menzel & Cinderella Original Motion Picture Cast
14. "Shoe Made of Glass" – Ben Bailey Smith
15. "Million To One / Could Have Been Me (Reprise)" – Camila Cabello & Nicholas Galitzine
16. "Let’s Get Loud" – Camila Cabello, Nicholas Galitzine, Idina Menzel & Cinderella Original Motion Picture Cast

Wrapping Up

Although being concerned about “having it all”; big job, romance and happy family is a bit “dated” for 21^st Century women, it’s a new concept in this fairy tale world in which women are supposed to stick to traditional roles. Camila Cabello makes a feisty and determined Cinderella who chooses career. It’s the prince who seems to compromise. I was left wondering, hummm, what does this guy really want to do with his life? However, Kay Cannon who wrote the popular Pitch Perfect films, writes and directs here and does know what makes talented, ambitious girls tick. Her handling of the women in the film works.

Ella hurries on her way to a new lifeCourtesy of Amazon Studios

It’s nice that, for once, the stepmom has a believable personal reason for being such a beyotch! She too had a dream and following it destroyed her first marriage.  Idina Menzel gets to belt several songs and, as usual, she’s great. The stepsisters are watered down versions of the usual models and that makes them a little too bland.

A side story concerning the prince’s King and Queen mom and dad rekindling their relationship seems a little “extra” but Pierce Brosnan and Minnie Driver needed something to do. Finally it is accepted that, as cool as he is, Pierce really can't sing.

Dancing is fun and the songs picked seem to perfectly fit the story. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Camila and Nicholas G. but they perform well together.

The mice are cute and provide decent comic relief when they turn into awkward footmen.

Camila and Idina on set with writer/director Kay CannonCourtesy of Amazon Studios

Overall, despite flaws, this new Cinderella will certainly entertain you and it is nice to update the old story while expanding on the female roles. We award four stars.

Cinderella Movie Rating: 

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

See Cinderella on Prime Video starting September 3^rd!