I’m totally not over Frozen. I know a lot of people are tired of everything related to Frozen and especially the song “Let It Go,” but not me. So I was very excited that before Cinderella, there was a new Disney animated short with the characters from Frozen. “Frozen Fever” is the continuing story of Elsa, Anna, and the gang.
It’s Anna’s birthday, and Elsa has a wonderful celebration planned. She wants everything to be perfect for her sister’s birthday. The only problem is, Elsa has a cold. Strange things happen when she sneezes (she is magical, after all) and soon she is delirious with fever. Of course, Kristophe, Sven, and Olaf pitch in to help with the party and hilarity ensues. Featuring a new song, “Making Today a Perfect Day”, and the original voice talent from Frozen, “Frozen Fever” is a fun short to watch before Cinderella. I loved it!
Now on to Cinderella. Before the screening, I wondered if there would be any variation to this story, like the twist in Maleficent or the more true-to-the-classic-fairytale story in Into the Woods. But no, this was Disney’s Cinderella, except live-action. There was more time spent exploring Ella’s childhood and her relationship with her mother and her father, but other than that, it was just what I expected.
Young Ella (Lily James) lives with her mother (Hayley Atwell – yes, Peggy Carter for Marvel fans) and merchant father (Ben Chaplin) in a chateau. It looked like they lived in England, but they spoke a bit of French. Anyways, Ella has a happy childhood, helping to feed the chickens and spending time with her parents. Sadly, Ella’s mother passes away.
Before her death, she taught Ella to always be kind and have courage. Ella never forgot that message. Soon, her father remarries and brings Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) to live with them. Eventually, Ella’s father passes away, and we all know what happens next – Ella is banished to live in the attic, forced to wait on her evil stepmother and two spoiled stepsisters.
Poor Ella does everything her cruel stepmother demands her to do. She does the laundry, cooking, cleaning, taking care of the animals, and more. Her attic bedroom is sometimes so cold, she is forced to sleep near the fireplace, which prompts her bratty stepsisters to nickname her Cinderella. One day, Ella has had enough of the nastiness and rides away into the woods. There, she meets the Prince (Richard Madden – yes, that is Robb Stark for “Game of Thrones” watchers) and they have an instant connection.
The Prince tells Ella that his name is Kit and that he is an apprentice at the castle, which technically isn’t a lie, as he is apprenticing to be the king! The Prince is so enchanted with Ella that he invites every maiden in the land to his royal “choose a bride” ball. Of course, wicked stepmother forbids her servant stepdaughter from attending the ball. Even though she refurbished one of her mother’s old dresses, once Ella’s wretched stepsisters tear up her gown, she flees out to the garden while the trio ride off to the ball.
Enter the Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) who looked fantastic and pure, not like I’m used to seeing her as Bellatrix in the Harry Potter movies! She uses her magic to help Ella get to the ball, and we know the rest of the story. Gorgeous, fancy ballgown, glass slippers, pumpkin coach, last stroke of midnight, and so on.
My favorite part was when Ella arrived at the ball. She just went in there like she owned the place. It was around then that she grew a pair, because shortly after the ball she stood up to her malicious stepmother and I wanted to clap and cheer for her.
I loved Cinderella. I thought Ella and the Prince were perfectly cast. Sadly, the Fairy Godmother was only in one scene, but that’s true to the animated version. Ella’s mice friends and Lucifer, the mean cat, were there also. I wanted to wear Ella’s fancy blue gown; it was so beautiful. I loved the scene where the Fairy Godmother transformed the pumpkin into the coach and the lizards into the footmen, and the goose into the coachman, and the mice into the horses. The CGI was seamless.
While I have no complaints about Cinderella, one thing I noticed was that the Prince and his people wore rather tight pants. Not Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth tight where you could see everything (this is Disney, after all!!), but they were pretty form-fitting. Also, the Fairy Godmother must have used some magic on the glass slippers, because she claimed they were comfortable – they did not look comfortable to me! I would try them on though, given the opportunity.
Unlike the animated version, this Cinderella is not a musical, but the audience is treated to an updated version of “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes”, sung by Lily James and “Bippity-Boppity-Boo”, sung by Helena Bonham Carter. I have already recommended that several of my friends go see this fun, family-friendly, magical film.
