After the Ball

Movie review by Tracy Moore, Common Sense Media
After the Ball Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 10+

Cinderella offshoot has dull characters, predictable plot.

NR 2015 111 minutes
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Parents say

age 11+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 9+

Based on 2 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that After the Ball is an uninspired romcom modeled after the Cinderella fairy tale. It features a young designer who goes undercover to save her father's fashion empire from her wicked stepmother and stepsisters. The stepsisters and stepmother scheme and manipulate throughout the film, while Kate and company also deceive to save the day. There is some profanity: "damn," "asses," "sugar t-ts," "hell." It's entertaining for its low-key predictability, but there are better movies that impart more interesting, truer messages about the fashion industry and true love.

Community Reviews

ewhit4
ewhit4 Adult
January 10, 2021
age 10+

FAV comfort movie

After the ball is more than just another Cinderella movie. Kate is not the Cinderella archetype, she is a career woman with high goals for herself and is obviously disappointed when she is unable to meet those goals. It contains plenty of jokes for the adults in the audience. While the movie is cheesy at times, overall it’s a cute watch and never fails to make me feel better.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
jesjorv
jesjorv Adult
July 5, 2020
age 16+

Hidden messages

I don’t think this movie appropriate for 10yr old it should be rated R
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Kate (Portia Doubleday) wants to work in the fashion industry, but her father's (Chris Noth) fashion empire -- and its reputation for stealing designs -- means she'll never work in this town. Instead she dutifully joins the family business, but after her mean stepmother (Lauren Holly) and stepsisters get her fired, she goes undercover to prove her talents and expose their corruption. Luckily, there's a prince of a guy in the shoe department who seems eager to help Kate reach her goals.

Is It Any Good?

AFTER THE BALL isn't the worst idea for a Cinderella-inspired romcom. Kate is more than a princess; she's also a designer. The prince has a paying job and creative talents and believes in Kate. A design setting is a fun backdrop for a fairy tale come to life with the glitz and glamour of the fashion industry. But here the characters are not particularly compelling, the design world it recreates looks built on a budget, and the plot moves slowly but obviously through the paces. The result is an uninspired message about following your dreams and a clichéd recreation of characters who could've used a bit more spark.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why Cinderella offshoots are so popular. What is the appeal?

  • Is it OK for Kate to go undercover if she saves the day? Can we sometimes do a little wrong to do a little right?

  • Does this movie seem to accurately portray what it takes to be a fashion designer? Why, or why not?

Movie Details

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