Just thought that I would blog for a tiny bit about the movie I saw tonight with Samrina; it's called "Penelope" and it's about a girl (played by Christina Ricci) who is cursed with the nose of a pig. Yes, it may sound quite farfetched and unrealistic, but hey, this is the movies! Christina Ricci is joined by a swoon-worthy James McAvoy, hilarious Catherine O'Hara, and a spunky Reese Witherspoon.
Penelope's great, great (and a few more greats) grandfather had the family cursed when he didn't marry the girl he was supposed to. The curse says that the first girl born to the Wilhern family will be cursed with the face of a pig, and that only true love from the same social class can break it. Thus Penelope's mother (O'Hara) bring in many a suitor, only to have them run away in horror. Yes it does seem unrealistic, but considering it is a fairy tale, stay with me.
Enchanted are the makeup, costumes, and set pieces. Throughout the movie Penelope sports a beautiful purple coat that is unique in style with its long coat tails and purple color. In her room, which she spends many an hour in, there is a swing that she frequently uses. These little added misc-en-scene elements make "Penelope" even more whismsical.
As the movie goes on, Penelope decides to run away and declare her independence. She experiences new things such as a beer on tap and riding around on a vespa with Reese Witherspoon. In the process, the public begins to fall in love with her.
Audiences might sense the real world metaphor to overweight people and Penelope the pig. Penelope's suiters run away from her and make rude comments behind her back, causing her to feel self-conscious. It is quite common to hear people make rude comments behind bigger peoples' backs also, as horrible as that might sound it is true. There are men-and women- in this world who will not accept someone else just because of their size, even if they have the best personality in the world. I applaud "Penelope" for taking this real-world situation and molding it into an eccentric-yet-believeable plot.
James McAvoy shines as Penelope's would be suitor Max, and Catherine O'Hara plays a controlling mother who wants nothing but the best for her daughter- which in this case means whatever makes Penelope normal and not a pig. Christina Ricci is back as a pig-nosed girl with a heart of gold, and her performance is sure to garner her the attention she hasn't seen since "The Addams Family".
At the core of this playful movie is something more, something that truly strikes home for many people. It is the journey of acceptance of yourself and the process of what it means to be normal.
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