Rediscovering old favorites has been a longstanding creed with The Movie Buff. Our recent countdown to Valentines day list brought me to an old favorite; a movie I own but hadn’t watched or thought of in over a decade.
“Ever After” is a love story with the lighthearted feel and comedy of any Hallmark type movie. Its time honored traditions of the Cinderella story make it predictable, but writer/director Andy Tennant crafts it to have its own uniqueness infused.
Drew Barrymore stars as Danielle, and brings her adorable quirks and unspoken charm and beauty to the table in the performance. Danielle is a tomboy and the polar opposite of the step-family she inherits at the start of the story.
True to the traditional tale, Anjelica Huston plays the wicked stepmother, Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent, an upper class noblewoman who is not used to the appreciations of hardened farm life. Daughter Marguerite (Megan Dodds) is perfect as a snobbish step sister, selfish and vain to no end, longing for her perceived duty to become princess, no matter who or what is torched in her quest.
“Ever After” is a theme employed countless times in literature and cinema, and it’s the duty of the talent to deliver a performance that makes it stand out. Drew Barrymore carries the story as Danielle, a sympathetic character if ever there were one. As Danielle is forced by her stepmother to sleep in the stables and wait on Marguerite hand and foot, we also see a great deal of depth in the character.
Danielle loves to read and has a certain socialist nature to her persona. An early scene depicts Danielle rescuing the husband of one of the baroness servants, a man the baroness sold into slavery to pay her own tax debt. This chance encounter lands her in favor with the young and rebellious Prince Henry (Dougray Scott) who has been given five days to find true love before an arranged an loveless marriage will commence.
Equally impressive are Anjelica Huston and Megan Dodds as the vile characters. While both women are truly wicked, its never done in such a way that doesn’t make the viewer laugh. One scene though will tear at your heart when Marguerite throws Danielle’s favorite book into the fire for no reason other than to be mean. I was a bit stunned to find a PG-13 rating as I literally am clueless as to what parents would be strongly cautioned to avoid.
The supporting cast fills roles as needed. Patrick Godfrey plays the artist Leonardo da Vinci who befriends Prince Henry and offers sage advise and comical lines throughout. “Michelangelo is trapped under a ceiling in Rome.” He states when asked why he was chosen to attend the royal ball. “I was the second choice.”
I loved Timothy West in the role of King Francis. The king is a stern but loving father who wants whats best for his son and his realm. He delivers one of the funniest lines when chastising the trouble making prince and threatening if he doesn’t obey him. “I will simply deny you the thrown and live forever.”
The only complaint I have is with a completely unneeded character Pierre le Pieu (Richard O’Brien) who is introduced in a strange way midway through and is there for no other reason than to add ten extra minutes at the end. Anjelica Huston and Megan Dodds are such great antagonists, Pierre le Pieu is a wasted and somewhat head-scratching addition.
Though Valentine’s Day is thankfully in the rear view mirror, “Ever After” is the kind of movie you can watch and enjoy at any time of year.
by – Matt Christopher
