Ella Enchanted Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A girl who *has* to do whatever anyone tells her falls for a prince, but her stepfamily and a super extra evil uncle try to ruin it with increasingly convoluted schemes.

🍿 Ella Enchanted: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Ella’s Unfortunate Gift

From birth, Ella is cursed (or blessed, depending on your perspective) with the ‘gift’ of obedience by the fairy Lucinda. This means she must obey any direct order, making her vulnerable to manipulation. Her mother teaches her to find inner strength to combat this, but after her mother’s death, Ella faces new challenges.

Stepmother and Sisters

Ella’s father remarries Dame Olga, a socialite with two cruel daughters, Hattie and Olive. They quickly discover Ella’s obedience and exploit it, turning her life into a miserable servitude. Feeling trapped and desperate, Ella decides to seek out Lucinda to undo the gift.

Journey and Friendship

Ella embarks on a journey to find Lucinda, accompanied by a talking book named Benny (formerly Mandy’s boyfriend). She befriends an elf named Slannen who dreams of becoming a lawyer, defying societal norms. Along the way, she encounters ogres, giants, and even Prince Charmont, who becomes an unlikely ally.

Political Intrigue

As Ella gets closer to Prince Charmont (Char), she uncovers a plot by his uncle, Edgar, to seize the throne. Edgar exploits Ella’s obedience to try to force her to kill Char. Ella is caught in a moral dilemma: obey and betray her love, or defy the curse and protect the prince and the kingdom.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Ella (Anne Hathaway): Cursed with obedience, Ella embarks on a journey to break the spell while navigating her feelings for Prince Char.
• Char (Hugh Dancy): The charming prince who falls in love with Ella and fights for equality in his kingdom.
• Edgar (Cary Elwes): Char’s power-hungry uncle who seeks to usurp the throne through deception and manipulation.
• Dame Olga (Joanna Lumley): Ella’s social-climbing stepmother who exploits Ella’s curse for her own gain.
• Lucinda (Vivica A. Fox): The well-meaning but dim fairy godmother who gives Ella the ‘gift’ of obedience.
• Slannen (Aidan McArdle): An elf seeking to become a lawyer, who becomes Ella’s loyal friend and companion on her quest.
• Mandy (Minnie Driver): Ella’s fairy, who tries to assist Ella, despite her own magical shortcomings.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Char: “Kiss me…” – Char mischievously says this before Ella leans in, reminding her that it wasn’t an order given her curse.
• Char: “That wasn’t an order.” – Char clarifies after his initial prompt, emphasizing Ella’s freedom to choose.
• Ella: “I know.” – Ella responds before kissing Char, showing her affection is genuine and not forced by the obedience curse.
• Ella’s Mother: “Whatever anyone says, what is inside you is stronger than any spell.” – Ella’s mother says this when she is dying, encouraging Ella to follow her own heart.
• Ella: “You will no longer be obedient!” – Ella shouts this in the Hall of Mirrors, finally breaking free from Lucinda’s curse.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $31,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $22,918,387
• Worldwide Gross: $27,388,767

💥 Ella Enchanted Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching ‘Ella Enchanted’ when I was younger and absolutely loving it! Anne Hathaway is so charismatic and the idea of a girl cursed with obedience is both hilarious and heartbreaking. The soundtrack is still stuck in my head! Seeing Cary Elwes play the villain was amazing. While the plot can be a bit cheesy, it’s a movie that always makes me smile and feel nostalgic. I loved the scenes where Ella had to follow ridiculous orders; Hathaway’s comedic timing is perfect. Also, the musical numbers are pure joy!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of fairytale retellings”
  • “Young adult audiences”
  • “Anne Hathaway fans”
  • “Viewers seeking lighthearted fantasy films”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild fantasy violence”
  • “Some scenes of peril”
  • “Brief suggestive humor”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “While not a cinematic masterpiece, ‘Ella Enchanted’ delivers a light-hearted escape. Anne Hathaway shines, bringing charm to her role. The movie blends classic fairy tale elements with modern sensibilities. It’s a fun watch, especially for younger audiences. Some of the humor might fall flat for adults. It’s enjoyable, but don’t expect groundbreaking storytelling.
• Common Sense Media: “This movie has some interesting plot turns and messages, but fails to deliver on story, tone, and production. It’s an amusing, entertaining movie for the target audience, but doesn’t provide value to older audiences.

Audience Reactions

Anne Hathaway’s performance is captivating and full of charm.: Viewers consistently praise Hathaway’s portrayal of Ella, noting her ability to bring humor and heart to the character.

The soundtrack is upbeat and catchy.: Many enjoy the musical elements of the film, finding the songs memorable and adding to the lighthearted feel.

Overall Consensus: A lighthearted, family-friendly fairy tale with a modern twist, carried by Anne Hathaway’s charming performance and catchy songs. While some find it cheesy or a weak adaptation, many appreciate it as a fun and entertaining escape.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The first song Ella sings, ‘Somebody to Love’ was not the original song choice. Tommy O’Haver discovered that Anne Hathaway didn’t have very good chemistry with their first choice and decided to use the Queen song when he heard her singing it.”
• “The cityscape of the Miramax logo dissolves into the cityscape of the medieval city in the movie during the opening credits.”
• “An extended version of this film is only available on Sky Cinema and includes extended scenes and a different song during the ending credits.”

🖥️ How to Watch Ella Enchanted?

Ella Enchanted is available for streaming rental or purchase on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability on cable on-demand services. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray can be found at retailers like Amazon and major online stores. Be sure to compare prices before buying!

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Ella Enchanted, you might like these similar films:

• The Princess Bride (1987): Both films blend fairy tale tropes with humor and adventure, appealing to a wide audience.
• Ever After (1998): A more grounded and romantic take on Cinderella, similar to Ella’s journey of self-discovery and romance.
• Stardust (2007): Features a blend of fantasy, romance, and humor with a strong female lead in a magical world.
• A Knight’s Tale (2001): For it’s modern soundtrack mixed with medieval setting.

🛒 Ella Enchanted Related Products

• Ella Enchanted [Blu-ray]: The Blu-ray edition offers enhanced picture and sound quality, bringing the vibrant world of Ella Enchanted to life. Experience the magic in high definition.
• Ella Enchanted (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Relive the movie’s catchy tunes with the official soundtrack. Featuring songs by Queen, Elton John, and more, it’s perfect for sing-alongs and nostalgic moments.
• Ella Enchanted (Gail Carson Levine): The Newbery Honor-winning novel that inspired the film, this paperback edition lets readers dive deeper into Ella’s world and experience the original story.
• Hallmark Keepsake Ornament, Ella Enchanted : Hallmark Keepsake Ornament features Ella Enchanted, for the collectors who have a passion for decorations and this movie.

🎧 Soundtrack

Ella Enchanted features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Somebody to Love” – performed by Queen
• “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart” – performed by Elton John and Kiki Dee
• “Strange Magic” – performed by Darren Hayes

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

everybody forgot how weird Disney’s Enchanted was…

Ever feel like ‘Enchanted’ was a little…off? Alex Meyers breaks down all the weird and hilarious moments you probably missed. Honestly, I never realized how many bizarre things happened until I watched this – prepare to laugh!

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