Ella Enchanted
Metascore
53 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 30
  3. Negative: 3 out of 30
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    A high-spirited charmer, a fantasy that sparkles with delights.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    83
    The hoot and giggle of a girl-power fairy tale blended from potions of ''Monty Python,'' ''Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,'' and ''Shrek.''
  3. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    75
    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.
  4. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Ruthe Stein
    75
    The movie doesn't aspire to be art, merely to entertain adolescent girls, which is practically guaranteed by the luminous presence of Anne Hathaway.
  5. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    70
    None of it would work without Hathaway, whose self-possession and lack of irony represents a throwback to old-fashioned Hollywood wholesomeness and glamour.
  6. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Dave Kehr
    70
    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.
  7. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Michael O'Sullivan
    70
    In the end, it may leave its audience, young and old alike, just as charmed as its bewitched young heroine.
  8. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Sean Axmaker
    67
    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.
  9. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Robert K. Elder
    63
    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.
  10. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Liam Lacey
    63
    Hathaway may be in a royal rut, but the tiara seems to fit.
  11. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Angel Cohn
    60
    Audiences, especially preteens, will be enchanted by Ella.
  12. Empire
    Reviewed by: Jo Berry
    60
    Anne Hathaway delivers another likeable performance in a tweenie treat that has enough smarts to keep older viewers engaged, too.
  13. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Gregory Weinkauf
    60
    Offers considerable charm and an obvious desire to please.
  14. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Teresa Wiltz
    60
    Good and entertaining fun.
  15. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    50
    An ugly-looking mismash of a fairytale.
  16. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    50
    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.
  17. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    50
    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.
  18. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Glenn Kenny
    50
    Ella Enchanted seems squarely aimed at 12-year-old girls, or, I don't know, maybe 8-year-old girls.
  19. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Chris Kaltenbach
    50
    Ella Enchanted is one cute movie.
  20. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    50
    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.
  21. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    50
    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.
  22. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Ed Park
    50
    Transpires in a somewhat chintzy fantasy kingdom lousy with more cameos than your typical Love Boat season.
  23. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    50
    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.
  24. Variety
    Reviewed by: David Rooney
    50
    The glue that holds the sweet teen-fantasy together is star Anne Hathaway, who continues to evolve into a luminous young lead.
  25. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    40
    Nothing un-beguiles a fairy tale more than forced whimsy and labored magic, which is precisely what plagues Ella Enchanted.
  26. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Kevin Carr
    40
    Really doesn't take itself seriously. In fact, it so doesn't take itself seriously that it has a negative impact on the film.
  27. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    40
    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.
  28. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    38
    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.
  29. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    38
    The result is an unappealing mess, made less bearable by uniformly lackluster performances and the cheesy special effects.
  30. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    30
    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.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 18
  3. Negative: 3 out of 18
  1. MovieMadness
    10
    A real Crowd pleaser, really enjoyed this one and say that you will too! An amazing piece of work that 100% guarantees a family fun adventure and with a comedy touch and lots of twists and turns! Amazing!… Full Review »
  2. MovieLonely94
    7
    it lacks the magic of other fairy tales, but to be fair, this movie has good comedy and it sticks to the book.
  3. Buster
    1
    Yeah right, people. This is a horrible movie. Go watch The Fugitive or something like that. The book is waaaaaay better. Check it out.
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