Today I watched a movie delivered to me by my dependable friend Netflix. You may know him - thin, red envelope, brings joy and convenience everywhere he goes? Yes? Well, he brought me a gem of a movie, Penelope.
Penelope stars Christina Ricci and James McAvoy and was produced by Reese Witherspoon. The movie was first released in February 2008. Its about a girl who is born to a wealthy family that has been cursed. The curse says the first born baby girl will have a hideous face, and the curse will not be broken until one of her own kind (another blue blood) accepts her until death do they part.
Penelope is born with a pig's snout and to spare her the humiliation, her parents keep her locked inside the gates of their estate. Her room becomes her world. The room is filled with toys, books, instruments, and Penelope's love - flowers and plants. The set design is gorgeous and beautifully whimsical.
Penelope's mother, played by Catherine O'Hara (best known as the mother of Kevin in Home Alone) believes the only way to break the curse is for Penelope to marry another blue blood. She hires a matchmaker to bring men in to meet Penelope. Knowing she's a hard sell, the family offers a large dowry. Every man who sees her runs, except for one - Johnny Martin, played by James McAvoy.
Penelope and Johnny develop a beautiful relationship, and spend hours talking through a two-way mirror. The two have an immediate chemistry, but Johnny's intentions are impure. He was hired to get a photograph of Penelope for the local paper. As he becomes more attached to her, and she finally reveals herself, he flees out of guilt.
Penelope eventually escapes her parent's home and explores the world she has always been sheltered from all her life. In the end, Penelope learns to except herself, and her pig nose, which it turns out, is all it takes to break the curse! Voila!
I won't spoil the ending, but I will say, this movie had me grinning ear to ear. The story and setting was magical, the ending was blissfully sugary, the soundtrack was excellent (check out "Waking Life" by Schuyler Fisk) and it features one of the most gorgeous wedding gowns I have ever seen.
The movie is only 90 minutes long (perfect length for a film, in my opinion) and every bit of it is enjoyable. If you liked Big Fish, you'll enjoy the magical, whimsical world of Penelope.
