From Deseret News archives:
Cinderella Story, A
Film review
Duff's latest, "A Cinderella Story," won't change anyone's mind either way. If anything, it's even more cutesy and by-the-numbers than what she's done so far (including television).
In other words, anyone who's not already a Duff fan should stay away. And given the lack of energy and innovation at work here, even fans may find this one redundant and lackluster.
"A Cinderella Story" attempts to put a slightly different spin on the much-filmed fairy tale, setting things in the modern day and changing the location to the San Fernando Valley. That's where we find Sam Montgomery (Duff), a hard-working, straight-A student. She also waits hand and foot on her wicked, cosmetic-surgery-obsessed stepmother (Jennifer Coolidge) and her idiotic stepsisters (Andrea Avery and Madeline Zima).
Of all this film's laughable conceits, perhaps the worst is trying to convince us that Duff could go unnoticed and be unpopular simply because she has a baseball cap pulled down over her eyes.
To be fair, at least she seems to be trying, even if her performance consists mostly of smiling or pouting her way through various scenes; sometimes, for variety, she'll even scrunch up her nose, suggesting confusion.
Murray fares better, if for no other reason than he at least seems to be mimicking emotional turmoil. Of course, that could be the result of having to deliver some of this film's unbelievably awful dialogue.
The supporting cast deserves much better, especially Regina King and Dan Byrd, who plays Sam's best friend and garners the film's only laughs.
"A Cinderella Story" is rated PG for some scenes of slapstick violence (including rough-housing and cat-fighting), crude humor involving bodily functions (including a flatulence gag) and scattered use of mild profanity (religiously based). Running time: 97 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com
Comments
Cast: Hilary Duff, Chad Michael Murray, Jennifer Coolidge
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