The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Really just a feel good movie with one of the best actresses of our time. Makes you laugh, smile and really reaches your heart. Absolutely love.

First off, this movie was disastrously bad for raising my children and saving my failing marriage. The themes are god-awful, and promote an Orwellian existential nightmare. Honestly, the acting is wooden all throughout. They utilized a literal wooden puppet for Anne Hathaway(or at least they had to, because her acting was so stiff and robotic). The story was moody and depressing, and honestly, a little insensitive to African Americans. This is the sort of film that gives us Americans a bad name. I'd give it a 0/10 if I could because it's so bad, but I'd rather just go watch Grey's Anatomy. Grey's Anatomy is a show that succeeds on all fronts and delivers exactly what this movie is lacking in...substance.

"Ella Enchanted" is usually the sort of movie that I would heckle, but Anne Hathaway is not someone whom I heckle. It's true that she started out in roles like "The Princess Diaries", but her later turns in "Brokeback Mountain", "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Rachel Getting Married" showed her to be more than just another pretty face, although I do find her quite attractive. Watching the movie, I assumed that the kingdom under its current governance was an allegory for racism: the giants, elves and ogres are only allowed to do certain things, with all prestigious careers reserved for humans. One could argue that using a fairy tale setting to address racism is inappropriate given what racism can lead to (i.e., genocide), but what are ya gonna do? I read that the movie took some liberties with the novel on which it's based. I of course had no idea that it's based on a novel and will most likely never read the novel, so I only have the movie to go on. I actually didn't find it to be a bad movie, mainly since it pokes fun at the fairy tale genre by incorporating modern things (escalators and even a Ray Charles song). Worth seeing.

This is one thing I really like about premium cable channels. This is not a film I would have ever gone out to see, but I caught it and home and quite enjoyed it.First off, this film doesn't take itself too seriously. There are so many things here that remind me of other film genres...and somehow they all work and come together. Things like inside jokes and references to current culture may seem out of place, but they work...sort of like they did in the old Crosby/Hope Road pictures. At a few places characters break into song...like in a Bollywood movie. An ancient fairy tale with modern music and dance. And lots more. You'll find yourself smiling.Second, the performances by the key actors are fun. First up is Anne Hathaway...whom I've always enjoyed, but who shows sides of her talent here that we don't always see. Hugh Dancy is just fine as the Prince. Cary Elwes shines as the goofily evil Prince's greedy uncle. Aidan McArdle is a great sidekick as an elf who wants to become a lawyer. And I always enjoy seeing Minnie Driver, who here is a household fairy.There are good special effects here, and they're not excessive to the point of distraction. The photography is very good and the sets are lush, with a great deal of it filmed in Ireland.I'm surprising myself here and giving this film an "8", in part just because it does something few films do -- it's something really different! And great fun! This is