Cinderella *** (2015, Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Ben Chaplin, Derek Jacobi, Stellan Skarsgård, Helena Bonham Carter) – Movie Review

Disney remakes its classic 1950 animated feature as director Kenneth Branagh’s very likeable, traditional and romantic if rather dull and old-fashioned live-action retelling of the classic fairy tale about Cinderella, the orphaned servant step-daughter of the Wicked Stepmother, who goes to the ball, loses her glass slipper, but wins the heart of Prince Charming.

Proving an excellent casting decision, Lily James is a huge asset as a feisty, attractive and appealing Cinders. Although she plays Hayley Atwell’s daughter in Cinderella, she is actually only seven years younger. Double Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett is obviously another ace in the hand as the bitter Wicked Stepmother, Lady Tremaine, who reduces Ella to a serving girl after her father dies. Blanchett pitches it perfectly, just a teeny weeny bit camp and arch, but mostly very truthful and forceful, relishing whatever good lines and moments come her way – and there are quite a few. And she even sounds very English!

Helena Bonham Carter is obviously performing in another movie, a more fun one actually, camping it up outrageously and hilariously as the Fairy Godmother. She’s a hoot. If only she had more screen time! With less to do, sold turns come from Ben Chaplin as Cinderella’s bereaved dad, Derek Jacobi as the old king and Stellan Skarsgård as the Grand Duke. They’re all commendably serious and low key.

Maybe put in the shade by Blanchett’s supreme turn, Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera seem to lack a bit of lustre as the ugly sisters Anastasia and Drizella, and Richard Madden lacks fire and the right look as Prince Charming. But these actors all play the roles as written and do what’s required, so it’s not their fault. The screenplay simply has all its eyes on Ella and Stepmother. It’s very much a film for girls. It turns out that it’s a movie about mother-daughter relationships, not really so much about prince meets girl after all.

Like the whole movie, Chris Weitz‘s screenplay is brisk, professional and amusing, but it is a modest achievement. The story is so well known that some major new riffs need to be played on the old tune. But not here. Disney have already enjoyed the Cinderella story recently in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. That twisted version of the story is far more interesting and far more fun.

As well as a fine romance, this is the tale of the deaths of several parents and spouses, and folk trying to be viciously greedy and setting out to humiliate and destroy other people’s lives. But here there’s too much sweetness, sincerity and light. This Cinderella isn’t dark and dangerous enough along the path on its way to true love and comeuppance. Cinderella doesn’t suffer enough, get upset enough or despair enough. Her Stepmother and Stepsisters have put her in hell for years, and she forgives them too darned easily.

Still, the target audience of girls from eight to 15 will probably adore this sweet Cinderella. Certainly it’s a lavish, glorious-looking movie, with marvellous production designs by Dante Ferretti, and both he and the fashion parade of period frocks by costume designer Sandy Powell must be honoured at the next awards season.

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© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

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