Penelope

I really wanted to like this movie because of the stars in it. Ultimately, I just did not like it. Apparently, a minor facial flaw sends men running. SPOILER ALERT: A better ending would have been for them to realize that she was not cursed and found friends, love and acceptance while keeping her original nose. "Roxanne" with Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah is a better movie with a similar idea. It was not the acting that ruined this movie for me but the premise that someone born less than perfect does not deserve love in that state. It as like watching Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame. The pretty people end up together and the ugly person is discarded (in this case magically). It is a shame that was the story that they decided to tell. Pretty on the outside is fleeting. Ugly on the inside is forever.

This film is a sweet and heartwarming Modern Fair Tale the whole family can enjoy with a great message.Christina Ricci (Penelope) a lonely heiress who has spent her entire life hidden from the world by her family because she was cursed with the nose of a pig. The curse can only be broken by "one of her own kind loving and accepting her."Unfortunately, after years of trying no other aristocrat will love, marry and accept her.James McAvoy plays (Max Campion) a man hired to prove Penelope's existences, after a young aristocrat is called a liar when he tells the newspapers about Penelope.At first, Max seems to see beyond her physical appearance and becomes the first man Penelope has conversations with and becomes friends with.Penelope dares to hope for the first time that she has found someone who can love and accept her. However, when Max refuses to marry her to break the curse Penelope feels for the first time the heartbreaking truth of her situation.She runs away from home to experience life as a buck list wish.The Aristocrat issues a reward for pictures of the pig face girl. She gives the papers her own photo to get the reward money for herself and whatever the world will do to her.Unexpectedly, when the pictures are published the public embraces Penelope as a fad/trendy new sensation.Then the Aristocrat who had once rejected her agrees to marry her for her new fame and fortune. Penelope realises she can not marry a man she does not love and who does not truly love her.When Penelope declares she likes herself the way she is, the curse is broken. Loving and accepting herself is the real key to breaking the curse, you yourself are one of your own kind.Penelope learns Max's real identity, that he was not an Aristocrat so he could not have broken the curse. Yet truly loved her. Penelope and Max meet and realise they love each other. Happy Ending.Overall, a delightful, sweet heartwarming Modern Fair Tale for the whole family to enjoy with a great message. 😄

I bought this movie for some children, but ended up enjoying it quite a lot myself. The movie does contain some common plot elements for a movie of this genre (like the desperately insane mother), but there are certain twists that make it quite different as well. I think the most important part though is that it has a certain subtle humor throughout that I found quite appealing and endearing. It wasn't over the top. There was just enough to keep a person entertained without becoming sugary sweet as some children's movies tend to do. The children enjoyed the movie quite a lot too. I won't say that it's the most successful movie time I've ever had with them, but it ranks near the top.

This is one of the most fanciful and sweet "fairytales" about love I have ever had the pleasure to watch. Enjoyed it so much, I also purchased the novelization.Christina Ricci and James McAvoy have good chemistry. Peter Dinklage is great, as usual, in his role as a determined reporter.The only drawback is Reese Witherspoon, also an exec producer. Fortunately, her role is a small one.If you liked Ever After and The Princess Bride, then this film is one to add to your viewing list.To say more would be to spoil the ending.

"Penelope" disproves the reigning Hollywood wisdom that bigger is better in fantasy films. It offers what the big boys who routinely throw $200,000,000 into their projects cannot-a heart. The film is in equal measures Hans Christian Anderson, Walt Disney and Tim Burton with its own askewed sensibility. The primary message of the film is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and skin deep so love the skin your in. It's a message that resonates throughout and the makers of "Penelope" do not make it cynically. Christina Ricci beautifully projects Penelope's fragility which makes the character more alluring despite sporting a snout for a nose. Catherine O'Hara is a joy as her overprotective mother. Reese Witherspoon, who produced the film, has a bit as Penelope's best friend. Russell Brand has a smallish part as James McAvoy's associate. I recommend this wholeheartedly as not only a great family film but a great film in a league with "Babe", another film featuring a hero with a porcine nose. Parents may want to be warned that there are some mild innuendo on display as well as incidental scenes of drinking and smoking.

Love everything about this movie. James McAvoy and Christina Ricci are wonderful. The supporting cast are all great. The story has just the right blend of fairy tale and reality. Liked this one so much I bought it.

One has to accept one's self to be truly happy - no one ever finds self-acceptance in the minds of others.There was nothing that particularly made this movie stick out one way or another ( which I suppose is a good sign ), This was quite enjoyable and put together very well, along with the happy ending I expected.You get to see Reese Witherspoon in a bee costume, and if you watch the credits you will see that she is listed as one of the producers - can't go wrong there.You can add me to the list of those who will most likely watch this movie again.

The tale of 'Penelope' is an interesting modern twist on fairy story romances... with an emphasis on 'noses' rather than 'tails', as the title character (the first-born female in her bloodline since an ancestor betrayed a witch's kin) is the luckless recipient of a generations-old curse: and has the snout of a pig in place of a nose. To break the curse upon herself, Penelope must find and marry a blue-blood. But, much to her parents' consternation, Penelope - who, because of her deformity, has been hidden away from the world for her whole life - is more interested in forming friendships than she is in breaking the curse.When a con-man turned suitor (McAvoy in dishevelled splendour) breaks her heart, Penelope sets out to discover the world for herself.This is a charming film, with endearing performances from Christina Ricci, James McAvoy and Reese Witherspoon (as Penelope's friend in exile). However, although it is pitched as a fairy tale story and has a PG rating (and certainly doesn't merit anything more in regards to content), 'Penelope' is not ideal for the 6-10 year old audience I bought it for after seeing it advertised. I thought the film, though slow-moving and at times quite sophisticated (e.g. in some scenes 'Penelope' is shown implicitly getting rapidly drunk in a bar... using a straw under her face-concealing scarf) was enjoyable, but aimed more at over 10's/teenagers than younger kids.

"Penelope" is the story of a high society girl, born with a pig's snout due to a curse. She is kept isolated by her excentric mother, who desperately tries to break the curse by finding a blue blood suitor for Penelope. This isn't easy, every man runs away after seeing Penelope's snout, until Max that is. Penelope and Max hit it off, but Max will not marry Penelope. After this rejection, Penelope breaks free into the world and goes exploring - and much follows..."Penelope" is a sweet, little fairy tale about accepting yourself despite your pig's snout. The movie feature excellent actors and magnificant performances from all of them. The dialogue is rich and humorous. All in all, "Penelope" is the kind of movie that makes you sigh and smile and the kind of movie that will remain on my dvd-shelf for a long time and be watched again and again.Louise

This is an unexpected jewel. I really didn't expect much - just a fun something, that I can watch and then forget. But, to my surprise, it turned out to be one of the better feel-good-movies I've seen in recent years. Christina Ricci is adorable as a girl with pig nose and, despite the ridiculousness of the fact, she makes the entire thing believable. She truly carries the entire film. McAvoy, I think, was tailor-made for this part.The greatest thing is that I can show it to my young niece, knowing, that the lesson of the film will not be lost on her.Definitely two thumbs up!

It took me years to actually watch it as I really didn't know what it was like and was scared to waste my time. When I did, I was pleasantly surprised, it is a fast paced story and has a lot of humourous moment. It's the story of a girl born with a pig nose (because of a curse) and needs to be loved by a blue blood to lift the curse. It's not a rom com, trust me, I can't stand rom com, they are so cliché, it winds me up, this one is more of a morale, feel good story and the guy in the story is cute.

This DVD was a good copy and came in good time by the seller. The film was also good