Not a patch on the original

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Not a patch on the original

Sunday, 05 September 2021 | Shalini Saksena

Not a patch on the original

CINDRELLA

Amazon Prime

*ing: Pierce Brosnan, Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Billy Porter

Rated: 4.5/10

The latest Cinderella movie to get dropped on Amazon Prime written and directed by Kay Cannon is not the first time that this fairy-tale is being told. This fairy tale has been retold at least 10 times in the past. And each one has had its pluses.

Unfortunately, this one is the most disappointing. There are a few points that make this a movie that has no soul or the much needed fairy-tale element to it that one would associate with the original movie. The whole reason why one loved this story was because — brace for it — the wicked stepsisters and the stepmother. Well, the sisters are not so wicked though they are mean. At least the stepmother is somewhat true to the original story.

Then there is the Price himself. He wants to be a prince but doesn’t. He is more like a boy-man. The King, played by Pierce Brosnan, who did so many Bond movies, does his bit but falls short of being a good father until the movie reaches the climax.

Then there is Cinderella herself. Singer Camila Cabello who plays the part here, is unable to create the much-needed magic. While the message of woman empowerment is clear and strong, the Moulin Rouge vibe thrown in for good measure, it doesn’t do anything to uplift this.

Given that the story is set in the 18-19th Century, is it not odd for the makers to make Cinderella wear an above the knee dress? Given that she dreams to be a seamstress instead of a princess, it is still strange for only her to be wearing it while the rest of the town folk are wearing what people wore back then.

Still, it is a fairy-tale and all is well that ends well. However, one would have preferred if it would have been as close to the original as possible.

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