 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
A Cinderella Story
- Review Date: October 17, 2004
- PG
- Genre: Comedy
- 2004
Common Sense Media says
Funny and sweet update of the Cinderella story.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there are some tense and sad moments, including the (off-camera) death of Sam's father and emotional abuse by Fiona. The movie has some mild schoolyard language, brief potty humor, a comic scuffle, a joke about eating disorders and a somewhat casual attitude about cheating in school. There is a sweet kiss. A strength of the movie is the portrayal of loving and loyal relationships between diverse people.
What's the story?
In this Cinderella update, high school senior Sam (Hilary Duff) lives in the San Fernando Valley with her mean stepmother, Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge) and stepsisters. After Sam's adored father was killed in an earthquake, Fiona made her sleep in the attic and work in the family business, a diner. Sam dreams of going to Princeton but needs Fiona to pay for it, so she follows orders and takes verbal abuse. Sam gets support from diner manager Rhonda (Regina King) and best friend Carter (Dan Byrd). And she has an online relationship with a boy she met in a chatroom for Princeton hopefuls, unaware that he's Austin Ames, student body president and star quarterback. He does not know she is "Diner Girl" Sam, so unworthy of notice that she is all but invisible except when the cool kids make fun of her. Sam's secret email-pal invites her to meet him on the dance floor at 11, at the Halloween dance. And so begins a magical story about Sam's magical encounter with the prince of her dreams in which she leaves behind...her cell phone.
Is it any good?
Girls will love this fresh, funny, and sweet, update of the Cinderella story, and it might win some fans among their older siblings and parents as well. Duff is not an actress but she has a winning personality and she makes a lovely Cinderella, sensitive, smart, honorable, and devoted. She knows what she wants and is willing to sacrifice her present happiness to get it.
The always-welcome Regina King is a pleasure as the godmother-equivalent who provides more than a dress, and Jennifer Coolidge (Best in Show) makes the most of a one-note character as the evil step-mother, especially when explaining that her serene expression is the result of Botox. Austin's efforts to find his Cinderella and Sam's struggles with Fiona go on longer than they should, but there is an old-fashioned happily-ever-after ending for everyone who deserves one, especially the girls in the audience.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what made it possible for Sam to hold on to her dreams and her self-respect despite Fiona's efforts to destroy them both. What was it about Sam that made her step-mother and step-sisters feel so threatened? Families could talk about the importance of really looking at people and really listening to them, and about the importance of being willing to let others see you as you really are (which requires knowing yourself very well, too).
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- Teens & kids
AGE
My favorite romance.
This is definately my favorite movie. It's very touching and gives a good message. To me it seems like it wouldn't be a good movie for kids 6 and under, since it's more of a romance. It doesn't have lots of good role models except for the main character, because there are some mean girls that give her a hard time.
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Kid, 11 years old
April 19, 2009
AGE
e.g. You should think twice before going with a tween!
THIS movie is all age appropriate i dont know what you somokin!
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AGE
a classic
I say great show the actors did a good job and i loved how they did such a good reenactment of a classic
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AGE
ok
I liked this movie, how Samantha stood up for herself. The story plot is ok, I guess, just very convienently manipulated in some scenes.
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AGE
Good for the family
This is a great family movie good for everyone in the family. There are some bad influences with some mean girls but otherwise there is nothing parents have to worry about.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 15, 2009
AGE
antonia's review
i think this film is relly good and u put a lot of evert in it as i can see this is the only and the best hairy duff film i have ever seen but i am going to watch more i promise. i bet lots of over people will be voting some good some bad my dad thinks it is a load of rubish but i do not care wat he thinks because it is about kissing and that and he does not lyk that stuff hah
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AGE
O.K.
i saw it ages ago but was kind of impressed thinking earlier it would be a fake
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| Topics: | princesses and fairies |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Mark Rosman |
| Cast: | Chad Michael Murray, Hilary Duff, Jennifer Coolidge |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 95 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 16, 2004 |
| DVD release date: | October 19, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | mild language and innuendo |
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