Penelope is No "Ugly Duckling"

    What happens when a script writer borrows heavily from the "Frog Prince," the "Ugly Duckling" and "The Wizard of Oz," while throwing in a pinch of comedy, romance and family politics? You either wind up with a plagiarized, sappy and humorless unmitigated failure, or the scriptwriter and the director combine in measured parts all of the ingredients that make storytelling fun... an art form.

    Director Mark Palansky's film is successful storytelling and well worth the 90 minutes running time you'll spend to enjoy a well acted tale told well. Penelope, played by Christina Ricci, is cursed from birth with the affliction of having a pig snout for a nose and pig ears that fortunately can be covered by her hair.

    The curse is believed to end if Penelope (who hails from a wealthy family) should marry a young man with "blue blood" lineage and once they kiss she loses the snout - reminiscent of the "Frog Prince." The sticking point is that when the young prospective bridegrooms actually saw Penelope for the first time, they leapt from her second floor window - without opening it first.

    The conflict is that Penelope has few options. The resolution is that she finds the answer within herself ala "The Wizard of Oz." Without posting the ending just know that Penelope is no "Ugly Duckling."

    Penelope's mother is played by Catherine O'Hara, one of America's great comedic actresses. James McAvoy plays with smoldering intensity her first male friend who has his own issues. Reese Witherspoon has a small "walk-on" role as her new best friend once Penelope takes some responsibility for her life.

    I've lent some hints as to what you might expect from this film, but be warned, this is no simple formula comedy / drama. It is richly textured and harbors rich nuggets of message without getting sappy and stupid. I know this is a film that I will take the time to see again and probably again once I have grandchildren.

    If I'm promising to watch this one again, it's got to be worth 3 1/4 stars.

    Released on DVD July 15, 2008. Rated PG