Penelope

2006

101 mins

Directed by Mark Palansky
53%
73%
Comedy
Drama
Fantasy

Penelope Wilhern (Christina Ricci), born to wealthy socialites (Catherine O'Hara and Richard E. Grant), is afflicted by a spell that... More

Penelope Wilhern (Christina Ricci), born to wealthy socialites (Catherine O'Hara and Richard E. Grant), is afflicted by a spell that can only be broken when she finds love (Hint: she has the snout of a pig!). Hidden away in her family's estate, the lonely girl meets a string of suitors in her parent's futile attempt to break the curse. Each eligible bachelor is enamored with Penelope and her sizable dowry; until her curse is revealed to them.

A mischievous tabloid reporter wants a photograph of the mysterious Penelope and hires Max (James McAvoy) to pose as a prospective suitor to get the shot. But the handsome down-on-his luck gambler finds himself falling for Penelope.

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Penelope | Ratings & Reviews

53_%129 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes® rating
73_%157,076 reviews
Audience score rating

"The whimsical ugly-duckling fable becomes more uneven as it proceeds, straining too hard to manufacture its quirky charms. But its message of self-acceptance might connect with tween girls daunted by unpretty adolescence."

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Variety

"I can truthfully say that watching this abysmal fantasy-comedy is less rewarding than being slapped across the face with a large wet fish."

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The Guardian

"Penelope’s about as convincingly ugly as Claudia Schiffer with sunburn, but that’s a small flaw in an otherwise lovely fairy tale."

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Empire Magazine

"While the plot itself appears to have been cursed with some scenes stretched to breaking point, the theme of self-acceptance is sensitively played out and Penelope's predictable 'beauty is only skin deep' moment of realisation strikes a touching chord. But it's James McAvoy's irrepressible on-screen charm as likeable rogue/suitor Max, alongside welcome cameos from Nick Frost and Russell Brand, that manages to rescue this otherwise underwhelming fantasy from being a second-rate Shrek fable."

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