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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Ella Enchanted

EMAILPRINTMiramax Films

Ella Enchanted reviews
53
7.0 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 30 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 24 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Comedy  |  Fantasy  |  Romance

Written by: Laurie Craig
Karen McCullah Lutz
Kirsten Smith
Gail Carson Levine (novel)

Directed by: Tommy O'Haver

Release Date:
Theatrical: April 9, 2004
DVD: August 24, 2004

Running Time: 95 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: PG for some crude humor and language

Starring Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Cary Elwes, Minnie Driver, Vivica A. Fox, Joanna Lumley, Patrick Bergin, and Eric Idle

A fairy Godmother granted Ella (Hathaway) the gift -- and curse -- of obedience at her birth. As a result of this unfortunate circumstance, Ella cannot refuse any command, and is often left at the mercy of unscrupulous personalities. In a bid to regain control of her life, Ella goes on a quest to free herself from this mysterious curse. (Miramax)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

88

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

A high-spirited charmer, a fantasy that sparkles with delights.

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83

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

The hoot and giggle of a girl-power fairy tale blended from potions of ''Monty Python,'' ''Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,'' and ''Shrek.''

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75

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

As an alternative to the slick, instantly forgettable fare usually made for kids and preteens, Ella Enchanted brings a little bit of magic to the multiplex.

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75

San Francisco Chronicle Ruthe Stein

The movie doesn't aspire to be art, merely to entertain adolescent girls, which is practically guaranteed by the luminous presence of Anne Hathaway.

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70

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

None of it would work without Hathaway, whose self-possession and lack of irony represents a throwback to old-fashioned Hollywood wholesomeness and glamour.

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70

The New York Times Dave Kehr

The messages blend seamlessly into the fantasy and comedy in what is surely one of the best films for older children in quite some time.

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70

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

In the end, it may leave its audience, young and old alike, just as charmed as its bewitched young heroine.

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67

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

Tries to both spoof the fairy tale and retell it from a fresh angle. Curiously enough, its strength lies in the clever approach, and not the goofy comedy around the edges.

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63

Chicago Tribune Robert K. Elder

The movie's computer-generated castles, magic visuals and sloppy effects echo a low-budget fantasy movie on cable. It's glossy, shiny candy that tastes oddly familiar yet lacks sugary punch.

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63

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

Hathaway may be in a royal rut, but the tiara seems to fit.

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60

Washington Post Teresa Wiltz

Good and entertaining fun.

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60

Empire Jo Berry

Anne Hathaway delivers another likeable performance in a tweenie treat that has enough smarts to keep older viewers engaged, too.

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60

TV Guide Angel Cohn

Audiences, especially preteens, will be enchanted by Ella.

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60

Dallas Observer Gregory Weinkauf

Offers considerable charm and an obvious desire to please.

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50

Village Voice Ed Park

Transpires in a somewhat chintzy fantasy kingdom lousy with more cameos than your typical Love Boat season.

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50

Variety David Rooney

The glue that holds the sweet teen-fantasy together is star Anne Hathaway, who continues to evolve into a luminous young lead.

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50

LA Weekly Staff (Not credited)

While the lovers here are sweetly believable, the film's murky giants-alongside-man effects shots are strictly Darby O’Gill and the Little People.

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50

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Likely to cast its spell primarily on adolescent girls, while their elders might well find it more than a little tedious in its familiarity and artificiality.

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50

New York Post Lou Lumenick

An ugly-looking mismash of a fairytale.

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50

USA Today Claudia Puig

It has a few moments of fun and whimsy, but it lacks the joyous spirit and intelligent humor of the children's novel on which it's based.

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50

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

Ella Enchanted is one cute movie.

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50

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

The special effects look like a high school science project: The giants are clearly rear projections behind the real actors, and that snake is as rubbery as a garden hose.

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50

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Too bad the filmmakers didn't trust the material. For Ella doesn't need music and references to other, better, movies to cast its unique spell.

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50

Premiere Glenn Kenny

Ella Enchanted seems squarely aimed at 12-year-old girls, or, I don't know, maybe 8-year-old girls.

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40

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

This has wit and energy to burn, but I can't call it escapism, because tackiness and snarkiness are among the things I most need to escape.

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40

Film Threat Kevin Carr

Really doesn't take itself seriously. In fact, it so doesn't take itself seriously that it has a negative impact on the film.

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40

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

Nothing un-beguiles a fairy tale more than forced whimsy and labored magic, which is precisely what plagues Ella Enchanted.

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38

ReelViews James Berardinelli

The result is an unappealing mess, made less bearable by uniformly lackluster performances and the cheesy special effects.

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38

Boston Globe Ty Burr

The producers of Ella Enchanted probably assume, correctly, that many more kids haven't read the book than have, and they're out to give that audience a slick, shallow good time.

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30

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

This might not matter so much to the youngest members of the audience, but for anyone over the age of 10, it’s strictly a colorful bore.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 24 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Buster gave it a1:
Yeah right, people. This is a horrible movie. Go watch The Fugitive or something like that. The book is waaaaaay better. Check it out.

Maddie S. gave it a10:
I agree with Julia R. Hugh Dancy is Definitely on my top 5!

sonya c. gave it an8:
Very enchanting and magical. nice clean family movie.

Ilze S. gave it a 7:
Good, but I expected a lot more.Anne Hetaway is great actress, she is perfect. So great is also her new movie:Princess Diaries:A Royal Engagement. This one is pretty and really funny,but I like Princess Diaries much better.

Julia R. gave it a 10:
Hugh Dancy is so HOT!

Harrison B. gave it a 9:
Funny, and very romantic. Ella Enchanted is full of happiness. It's like Shrek and The Princess Bride combined. Anne Hathaway was sensational. A very good fairy tale.

E. Q. gave it a 9:
Great movie.

Read more user comments >

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