With
a star-studded cast composed of fine-tooned comedy veterans, I expected
to see fairy tales gone hilariously amuck, in Happily N’Ever
After. Instead, they were way out of key. I was quickly disappointed
and eventually hiding in the depths of my popcorn bag trying to drown
out the evil laughter that echoed in my nightmares.
The movie started at its near-end then scrolled backward with a narrative
voice of one of its main characters, Rick (Freddie Prinze Jr.). The
collection of characters seemed to resemble characters from other
movies, as if redrawn for the movie Happily N’Ever After.
Suddenly, I felt a chill as the echoing of evil laughter started again
from Freida (Sigourney Weaver), the evil stepmother. At first glance,
the red dress, sexy silhouette and slow mischievous walk reminded
me of Jessica in the movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Except for the
non-stop evil laugh (hence I keep bringing up, that’s how annoying
it was), that bore down what might have been a good… well, evil
villain.
Then enter Cinder-Ella. Not our typical storybook drawn girl, but
a more up beat, modern Ella, enchanted by a prince who doesn’t
know she even exists. Her stepmother however, realizes the competition
and rolls out the list of chores Ella must complete before catching
a pumpkin to the ball, or becoming a pumpkin… depending which
spell the Fairy God Mother casts, if she remembers to.
The Prince’s dishwasher, Rick is one of the “unseen characters”
forgotten by traditional fairy tales who loves Ella despite it all.
He eventually tires of her constant hallucinating over an air-headed
man that follows instructions from a tiny book and rebels despite
advice of the three funny chefs in the kitchen.
The Prince, with his perfect zig-zag hair, was played by Patrick Warburton,
a pro to excellent cartooning. Yet his character reflected too much
on a previous character named Kronk, from The Emperor’s New
Groove series.
It was like listening to Kronk in a costume. It was a twisted fairy
tale that took a wrong turn. I suggest one not spend hard-earned money
on this B-rated film.
