PENELOPE
US/UK, 2006, 86 minutes, Colour.
Richard E. Grant, Catherine O' Hara, Nick Prideaux, Christina Ricci, Michael Feast, Ronni Ancona, Simon Woods, Simon Chandler, Peter Dinklage, Burn Gorman, James Mc Avoy, Nick Frost, Nigel Havers, Lenny Henry, Reese Witherspoon, Russell Brand.
Directed by Mark Palansky.
It is difficult to know who to recommend this film to. It’s one of those eccentric little films that one passes over or belongs to the ‘Catch it on Cable’ list. Probably, it may appeal to pre-teen and young teen girls who think they are ugly in some way. The message, of course, is to be one’s true self and let everyone see the inner beauty.
Filmed in England, it is set in one of those ‘capitals’ which have the look of London with a lot of American skyscrapers. While the plot about ‘blue bloods’ sounds as if it belongs in England, most of the characters, including some of the British, speak with American accents. Perhaps it’s something of a contemporary Atlantis, somewhere out there between North American and Europe.
It is also set up as a fairytale with, Once upon a time, the visualising of a curse long ago (where the dastardly deed of an ancestor means that the first girl descendent will be born looking like a pig). The voiceover is from Penelope (Christina Ricci) who is that girl. Her laid-back father (Richard E. Grant) and her dominating mother (Catherine O’ Hara) bring her up in secret and mother wants to marry her off to a blue blood because the curse will be overcome by ‘one of her own kind’. Suitors are repelled, run screaming from Penelope or hurl themselves out of windows. Actually, despite the trim snout, Penelope still looks quite pretty so this is a huge over-reaction.
What will Penelope do? Can she break the spell? Can she go out on her own?
The rest of the rather complicated plot involves a whole lot of stars turning up in unexpected roles, including Nigel Havers, Russell Brand, Ronni Ancona, Nick Frost, Lenny Henry and Reese Witherspoon. However, the main villain is Peter Dinklage as a journalist who wants to expose Penelope and James McAvoy? is a young man who could break the spell. Before that happens (not in the way we were anticipating), there is some raucous comedy, some sweet soul-searching and some false starts on the marriage market.
Christina Ricci is able to carry the whole thing off more plausibly than one might have imagined and James McAvoy? (before Becoming Jane and Atonement) plays the forlorn hero well.
But, it is still difficult to tell who the film will really appeal to.
1. 21st century fairytale?
2. Audiences and fantasy, gypsy curses witches?
3. The history of family, affair, gypsies, curse, for the first female?
4. Christina Ricci, family, money, finance, her pig-face?
5. Lemon, the journalist, curiosity, wanting a photo opportunity, Penelope’s mother attacking him, the loss of his eye?
6. Penelope’s parents, wanting to arrange suitors, from marriage and to break the curse? The range of suitors, including Jake? Wanda, her wanting to break the curse?
7. Vandermand, his reaction to Penelope, his escape?
8. Lemon, his continued curiosity, the patch on his way, the plan? His link with Max, Max as being disowned for gambling, the camera in his pocket? Looking through the one-way mirror? The attraction – then seeing Penelope’s face?
9. Penelope, the plea for marriage, the refusal, the clash with Lemon?
10. Penelope, her escape, concealing her face with the scarf, finding Annie, befriending her? Annie, the money for the reward, sending her own photo?
11. The parents, plans, the celebrity?
12. The complex identity of Max, the real Max in jail, Johnny?
13. The breaking of the curse, almost marriage, backing out, Penelope wanting to marry not just to break the curse but for herself? Her discovery that she could love herself? The breaking of the curse?
14. Penelope, the photo, public interest, supporting her? Losing interest – and the discovery of the gorilla boy?
15. Jessica, mute, wander and telling Penelope the truth? Jake as the witch?
16. Penelope, the mask, Johnny loving her, the kiss – and the postscript with the comic touches about Lemon?
