# Ella Enchanted (film)

Ella Enchanted is a 2004 jukebox musical fantasy comedy film directed by Tommy O'Haver and written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, loosely based on Gail Carson Levine's 1997 novel of the same name. Starring Anne Hathaway and Hugh Dancy, the film is a satire of the fairy tale genre.
An international co-production between companies in the United States, Ireland and United Kingdom, the film was a box-office bomb and received varied critical reviews. It was heavily criticized for its changes to the source material and addition of new characters, and Levine stated that the film is "so different from the book that it's hard to compare them" and suggested "regarding the movie as a separate creative act". Nonetheless, the film has over time become a cult classic, with stars like Dancy making appearances at comic conventions.

## Plot

In the kingdom of Lamia, an angry fairy godmother Lucinda Perriweather bestows the "gift" of obedience on newborn Ella of Frell, causing her to instantly and literally obey any command she is given. Years later, on her deathbed, Ella's mother warns her daughter not to tell anyone about the gift for fear that someone might exploit her. Ella is also told there is something in her stronger than any spell.
Ella's father Sir Peter eventually marries a wealthy socialite, Dame Olga, who dislikes Ella and mistreats her. Ella publicly protests and then meets Prince "Char" Charmont, who invites her to his coronation ball. Jealous, Olga's daughter Hattie finds out about Ella's obedience and uses it to humiliate and control her. Ella resolves to find Lucinda to undo her "gift". Mandy, the household fairy, lends Ella her boyfriend, Benny, whom she has accidentally transformed into a magic book. Ella learns that Lucinda is in Giantville and goes to find her.
On her journey, Ella rescues Slannen, an elf who wants to become a lawyer rather than forced to be an entertainer. They are captured by ogres but are rescued by Char. He joins them, intending to avenge the death of his father, and Ella opens his eyes to the cruelty of the laws oppressing elves and giants enacted by Char's paternal uncle, Sir Edgar, the King Regent.
Ella and Char begin to fall in love. Together they travel to the capital for Char's coronation. Edgar learns of Ella's "gift" from her stepsisters. Knowing his nephew is in love with her, he orders Ella to murder Char at midnight and to keep this plan a secret. Edgar reveals that he murdered Char's father, and the prince's death will make him king. Ella writes Char a letter, saying she must leave but cannot explain why. She has Slannen chain her to a far-off tree, hoping to wait out Edgar's command, while Slannen recruits more elves and giants to protect Char.
Lucinda appears and Ella begs her to take back her gift. Offended, Lucinda insists that she remove the gift herself and unchains her. Forced to go back to the castle to fulfill the murder of Char, Ella stumbles into the ball. Char takes her to the hall of mirrors where he proposes. As she is about to stab him, she sees her reflection along with a vision from her late mother, and tearfully commands herself to no longer be obedient, which frees her from the curse. Char notices the dagger, and Edgar, who was watching in hopes of witnessing the murder, has Ella arrested before she can explain herself.
Benny reveals Ella is in the dungeon, so Slannen sneaks into the castle along with a band of elves, giants, and ogres, and frees her. Benny shows them that Edgar has poisoned Char's crown, intending to kill him at the coronation. Ella and the others crash the ceremony and a brawl ensues.
In the scuffle, Mandy manages to turn Benny human again. As Char and Ella fight off the guards, she confesses her love for him and reveals Edgar's plot. Edgar's talking snake Heston almost fatally bites Char, which he takes as evidence of his uncle's guilt. Edgar attempts to proclaim himself king, foolishly puts on the poisoned crown, and collapses.
Soon after, Char and Ella are married; and Char toasts to a new era of equality among all citizens of the kingdom. Edgar is revealed to still be alive, but disabled and confined to a wheelchair. The cast performs a final dance number of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" before the newlyweds ride off on their honeymoon.

## Cast

* Anne Hathaway as Ella of Frell, a girl given the "gift" (or curse) of obedience by the fairy Lucinda, which magically compels her to literally obey every command she is given, even if it is against her wishes. She has a powerful singing voice, big enough to blow out a fire.
** Aimee Brigg as young Ella
* Hugh Dancy as Prince "Char" Charmont, son of the late king and heir to the throne. He has his own overzealous fan club and is treated like a teen heartthrob, though he disagrees with this label.
* Cary Elwes as Sir Edgar, the Prince's evil uncle and King Regent who wants the crown for himself. He killed King Florian, and took over the crown years ago.
* Steve Coogan as (the voice of) Heston, Edgar's pet snake and royal advisor.
* Eric Idle as the Narrator, our storyteller who speaks only in rhymes and is often seen breaking the fourth wall.
* Aidan McArdle as Slannen, an elf who wants to become a lawyer.
* Jimi Mistry as Benny, Mandy's boyfriend whom she had accidentally transformed into a giant magic book (before the film's events) and a pumpkin for a short time. He is later turned back into his human form towards the end of the film.
* Minnie Driver as Mandy, a household fairy who lives in Ella's home.
* Vivica A. Fox as Lucinda Perriweather, an angry, misguided, and often unhelpful fairy who gave the "gift" of obedience to Ella as a newborn infant.
* Lucy Punch as Hattie, one of Ella's cruel stepsisters who is obsessed with Prince Charmont.
* Jennifer Higham as Olive, Ella's kleptomaniac and dim-witted stepsister who always follows her older sister Hattie.
* Jim Carter as Nish, an ogre who eats humans and the leader of the pack of ogres.
* Parminder Nagra as Areida, Ella's childhood best friend.
** Ankita Malkan as young Areida
* Patrick Bergin as Sir Peter, Ella's father and Eleanor's husband.
* Donna Dent as Lady Eleanor, Ella's birth mother and Peter's first wife.
* Joanna Lumley as Dame Olga, Ella's cruel abusive stepmother.
* Alvaro Lucchesi as Koopooduk, a giant
* Heidi Klum as Brumhilda, a giantess and Slannen's love interest.
* Johnny Trí Nguyễn as Red Knight

## Production

Hathaway, who first read the book when she was 16, says that there was originally a version of the script that was much closer to the book but that it didn't work as a film; she added that she prefers the way the movie actually turned out because it "makes fun of itself for being a fairy tale." Levine states that the film is "so different from the book that it's hard to compare them," noting the addition of new characters such as Sir Edgar and Heston, and suggested "regarding the movie as a separate creative act".
Hathaway did her own singing in the film.
Jimi Mistry, a British actor of Indian descent, said that he enjoyed playing a talking book in the film because it offered him the opportunity to do something different from his other roles. "You can't get less Indian than a talking book, and an American talking book, so it was great," he said.
Filming took place in Ireland at Ardmore Studios and on location in Wicklow during August–December 2002. Locations included Luggala Estate, Killruddery House and Garden, and Kiltegan.

## Release

Miramax Films released the film on April 9, 2004.

### Box office

Ella Enchanted opened on April 9, 2004, and earned $6,169,030 in its opening weekend, ranking number nine at the domestic box office. At the end of its run, the film grossed $22,918,387 domestically and $4,470,380 overseas for a worldwide total of $27,388,767.

### Critical response

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 51% approval rating based on 115 reviews with an average rating of 5.6/10. The site's consensus reads: "Hathaway is a charming heroine, but the simple storyline gets overwhelmed by silly gimmickry." On Metacritic, the film has a 53 out of 100 rating based on 30 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average rating of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.
Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert gave the film 3.5 stars out of 4, praising it as "the best family film so far this year" (April 9, 2004).

## Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack was released on April 6, 2004, by Hollywood Records, Epic Records and Sony Music Soundtrax and features Kelly Clarkson's cover of Aretha Franklin's "Respect" along with Hathaway's cover of "Somebody to Love" by Queen and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John and Kiki Dee, covered by Hathaway and Jesse McCartney.