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Entertainment news, celebrities lifestyle |
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“Penelope” (2006) overview [ “Penelope” official poster ]
A modern day romantic tale about a young aristocratic heiress (played by Christina Ricci) born under a curse that can only be broken when she finds true love with “one who will love her faithfully.” Many years ago, a young and fecund male in the wealthy Wilhern family shamed a young servant girl and failed to do right by her. The girl's mother, a witch, gave the family a curse that its next girl baby would be born with a pig's snout that can only be cured when one of her own kind loves her. As luck with have it, the family went through generations of male children before Penelope was born. Actually Penelope is pretty cute except for the snout. She is hardly ugly enough to have blue-blooded suitors flinging themselves through glass windows to escape the family mansion. But then, blue bloods are so finicky. When Penelope was a baby, gutter journalists such as Lemmon (Peter Dinklage) so hounded the family in pursuit of the truth behind the rumors of deformity that her parents, Jessica (Catherine O'Hara) and Franklin (Richard E. Grant), faked her death. So Penelope grew up in regal isolation in an attic bedroom filled with wonderful toys, a swing and false scenery. Now when the family seeks suitors for Penelope of “her own kind,” all must sign agreements not to disclose what they see. However, one suitor, the insufferable Edward Vanderman (Simon Woods), escapes before signing the agreement. The police lock him up for lunatic babbling about a pig-faced woman, but Lemmon picks up the scent. Lemmon, determined to get his scoop, and Edward, desperate to rehabilitate his reputation as mentally unbalanced, hire a “down-and-out blue blood,” Max (McAvoy), to pose as a prospective suitor and take a photograph of Penelope for Page One. Max is rather charmed by Penelope, though, so he never delivers that shot. Yet he too, for reasons the movie coyly reveals later, will not ask for her hand. Fed up with a life of rejection, Penelope flees her home and, with a scarf disguising her deformity, is determined to live in the outside world. Penelope real problem is not the snout but overprotective parents. She makes friends with swaggering Annie (Reese Witherspoon) and things are going just fine until her parents track her down. When Penelope refuses to return to her old life and decides to go public with her curse, the movie cleverly turns into a satiric take on celebrity culture. Fed up by his latest betrayal and determined to live life on her own terms, Penelope breaks free from her family and ventures into the world alone. She finds adventure and Annie, her first friend and becomes the person she was meant to be... Overall, the movie is very enjoyable though somewhat predictable. Anyway, the story has to have a happy ending. Ricci's Penelope is a sweet-natured, surprisingly well-adjusted woman, who yearns for love. It's one of Ricci's best performances. Fantastic fresh fairy tale for teens and adults, say critics. The cast deliver fine comic performances, especially Dinklage as the tough-on-the-outside reporter, Woods as the clueless snob, and Grant and O'Hara as the wrong-headed parents. Genre: comedy, fantasy Director: Mark Palansky. Writer (WGA): Leslie Caveny (written by). Co-producer: Reese Witherspoon. Cinematography: Michel Amathieu (France). Production design: Amanda McArthur (New Zealand). Costume design: Jill Taylor (UK) Cast Christina Ricci as Penelope James McAvoy as Max Catherine O'Hara as Jessica Wilhern Reese Witherspoon as Annie Peter Dinklage as Lemon Richard E. Grant as Franklin Wilhern Simon Woods as Edward Vanderman Jr. Ronni Ancona as Wanda Jason Thornton as Shane Martin Nigel Davey as Street Vendor Tallulah Evans as Little Girl - Photo Booth Nick Frost as Max Campion Burn Gorman as Larry Jillian Henry as Young Penelope (voice) Lenny Henry as Krull Paul Herbert as Leonard Wilhern Richard James as Card Dealer Richard Leaf as Jack the Barman Rubria Marcheens Negrao as Hotel clerk Nick Shafer - voice John Voce as Duty Cop Christina Greatrex Nigel Havers Michael Feast Russell Brand Certifications MPAA rating: PG for thematic elements, some innuendo and language. Ireland: PG, Taiwan: GP Runtime: 102 min. Country: USA, UK. Language: English. Color: Color. Aspect ratio: 2.35:1. Sound mix: DTS, SDDS, Dolby Digital Premieres Canada - September 8, 2006 (Toronto Film Festival) France - May 16, 2007 (Cannes Film Market) Czech Republic - June 30, 2007 (Karlovy Vary Film Festival) Russia - August 2, 2007 Ukraine - August 30, 2007 UK - February 1, 2008 USA - February 29, 2008 Japan - March 1, 2008 Taiwan - March 14, 2008 France - April 9, 2008 Netherlands - April 24, 2008 Belgium - April 30, 2008 © Preems.com |
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Companies Production Grosvenor Park Productions >>>> Distribution Summit Entertainment - international sales >>>> Summit Entertainment (2008) (USA) (theatrical) (sales) >>>> Hyde Park Films (sales in selected countries) Momentum Pictures (2008) (UK) (theatrical) Desperado (2008) (Japan) (theatrical) Pinema (2008) (Turkey) (all media) Blue Sky Media (2008) (Czech Republic) (all media) Paradise Group (2007) (Russia) (all media) RCV Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical) Other Pinewood Studios - movie studio Audiolink Radio Communications - walkie talkies/mobiles Dennis Davidson & Associates Public Releations (DDA) - unit publicity Dolby Laboratories - sound mix Freeform Design and Construction - set construction Gearbox Sound and Vision - additional ProTools systems supplied by Lakeshore Records - soundtrack Lee Lighting - lighting Mad Dog Casting - extras casting Orbit Digital - Avids Panavision UK - camera equipment provided by Trevanna Post - post-production accounting Filming locations Hall Barn, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK London, England, UK Piccadilly Circus, Piccadilly, London, England, UK Primrose Hill, London, England, UK Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK Taglines A fairytale like no other. She's been hiding all her life. Now she'll show the world just who she really is. Sometimes true love is right under your nose. What makes us different makes us beautiful. Critics' reviews Los Angeles Times: “... there's no real rigor or craft applied to this story – just mood, tone, neo-gothic imagery and frantic attitude.” The Hollywood Reporter: “... smart about its characters and the not-quite-real world they inhabit.” Entertainment Weekly: “Is there anything more dull than an ineptly cynical fairy tale?” Variety: “... becomes more uneven as it proceeds ... “ TV Guide: “... a sweet, unassuming surprise.” The New York Times: “... a muddled, charm-free fairy tale ...” Rolling Stone: “On the shelf for two years and deserving of a mercy killing … “ Chicago Tribune: “... never works up much comic steam.” USA Today: “Though the film has a strong cast, humor and a satirical take on celebrity culture, the story is spotty.” |
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Preems.com welcomes your thoughts, stories, information |
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Newcomer
Mark Palansky shot an entertaining comedy for young girls and older
girls who still like a good romantic fable.