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A Cinderella Story
Poor old Sam Montgomery (Hilary Duff) to
deal with her bimbo stepmother Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge) and her idiot
stepsisters Brianna and Gabriella (Madeline Zima and Andrea Avery); all
the while working at the family diner and studying so she can go to
Princeton University. The only bright spot in Sam’s life is the text
message and email relationship she is having with the mysterious Nomad.
Nomad as it turns out is Austen Ames (Chad Michael Murray) the hunky
school football star, who feels trapped in his own life due to an
overbearing father and a scheming airhead of a girlfriend. Austin and
Sam come face to face at the dance, Sam conveniently disguised, however
in a rush to meet her midnight curfew – and before Austin can discover
her identity – she rushes off, drops her mobile phone in the process.
I’m sure you can see where this is going….
A Cinderella Story is exactly that, the fairytale of Cinderella updated
for today (though a dropped mobile phone is hardly as romantic as a
glass slipper); starring teen sensation Hilary Duff. Duff and Michael
Murray do well with their characters, but the film is hardly
Shakespeare. The standout performances come from the side characters,
Regina King as the scrappy “fairy godmother” Rhonda and Coolidge who
vamps it up as Sam’s wicked stepmother the vacuous Fiona.
A Cinderella Story offers the usual message of standing up for yourself
and following your dreams, with a side of comedy and teen angst. Let’s
face it, this movie is really for young girls who can identify with
“unpopular” Duff and swoon over “hunky” Michael Murray. And in that
respect it succeeds, it won’t change your life but it will entertain you
for ninety minutes.
Special features include an audio commentary with Hilary and her friends
(ie other cast members), a making of featurette, screen tests, a find
your prince/princess game, additional scenes and a music video starring
for the single “Our Lips Are Sealed” sung by Hilary and her sister
Haley. |
