There is an underlying sweetness to Penelope, a root-for-her vibe that's only slightly diluted by the predictable story.
Comment
02/28/08
Penelope (2008)
50
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:121
Fresh:61
Rotten:60
Average Rating:5.5/10
Consensus: Though Penelope has a charming cast and an appealing message, it ultimately suffers from faulty narrative and sloppy direction.
Theatrical Release:01-02-2008
Synopsis: Like Tim Burton's EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and the TV show PUSHING DAISIES, PENELOPE is a modern fairy tale, complete with candy colors and whimsical cinematography. PENELOPE begins with a... [More]
Starring: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, Reese Witherspoon
Director: Mark Palansky
Reviews for Penelope
There are some lovely touches, yet it's as if someone forgot to sprinkle fairy dust on it.
02/28/08
Neither a talented cast nor the film’s Gaudi-like version of London’s urban landscapes can make up for schizophrenic pacing and inexplicable phenomena.
02/28/08
No offense intended, but a pig snout is very becoming on Christina Ricci.
02/27/08
Much as I would like to give Penelope unreserved praise, I can't stretch my lukewarm approbation that far.
02/27/08
What Penelope offers is a terrific cast willing to emphasize the charming, a decent fake nose and a message that any parent would love to pass on to a child -- love yourself and the world will love you back.
02/27/08
For a film that is basically about a hip, New Wave fairy princess, Penelope has both old-fashioned charm and a freshly modern approach to the subject of media manipulation and celebrity culture.
02/27/08
A delightful little tale that nonetheless suffers from a distinct sense of déjà vu.
02/27/08
May not exactly be the belle of the ball, but this ugly duckling updating is certainly fetching enough to serve as enticing family entertainment.
02/27/08
Ricci is appealingly human, and some acknowledgement of the importance of female friendship, in addition to romance, is faintly touching.
02/27/08
However one can fault the execution, there's something ironic about its sweet message about accepting one's own faults.
02/26/08
If you've watched 'Pushing Daises,' you can predict whether you'll find Penelope's over-the-top charms deliciously sweet or annoyingly cloying.
02/26/08
A plucky, whimsical romance as the ugly-duckling fantasy morphs into a satiric take on celebrity culture.
02/22/08
Director Mark Palansky wishes he was Tim Burton. So will you, because even with producer Reese Witherspoon showing up in a cameo, Penelope is dead on arrival.
02/21/08
If you're looking for something a little bit offbeat, Penelope won't send you diving out any windows to escape its quirky humour and gentle moralizing.
02/20/08
Puts to rest the adage "Only a face a mother could love" because beauty trumps everything.
02/07/08
In Palansky's disappointing effort to blend old and new fairy tales, the theme (I like myself the way I am) is a reworking of Shrek, while the visuals borrow from Burton's early oeuvre, and even eccentric thesp like Christina Ricci can't help the film.
02/07/08
The most successful films in this genre rely heavily on production design, but unfortunately director Palansky decides to play it fairly straight here. Luckily, the film has an interesting story, for which all credit should go to writer Leslie Caveny.
01/18/08
Mark Palansky goes for Tim Burton-by-Jean-Pierre Jeunot whimsicality with Penelope, a storybook fable that never overplays its cutesiness but also fails to figure out what it wants to be.
08/12/07
"Penelope" is a new twist on an old fairy tale template that succeeds for the heartfelt performances of Ricci and James McAvoy.
06/08/07
Latest News for Penelope
July 12, 2008:
With only a DNA witch's curse pig's snout compromising Ricci's otherwise exceedingly alluring physical assets, it doesn't make a lick of sense that prospective suitors are jumping out of windows after catching a glimpse of her disfigured beak. 
More...
February 28, 2008:
Box Office Guru Preview: Semi-Pro Set To Slam Dunk The Competition
A triumvirate of films opens this weekend, but all will bow to the power of the mighty Will Ferrell and his latest outrageous comedy, Semi-Pro. More...
February 28, 2008:
Critics Consensus: Semi-Pro is Semi-Good, Boleyn Girl Not Quite Movie Royalty
This week at the movies, we've got hapless hoopsters, snouted socialites, and scandalous siblings. What do the critics have to say? More...
February 28, 2008:
With only a DNA witch's curse pig's snout compromising Ricci's otherwise exceedingly alluring physical assets, it doesn't make a lick of sense that prospective suitors are jumping out of windows after catching a glimpse of her disfigured beak.
More...
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