Charming

Movie review by Jennifer Green, Common Sense Media
Charming Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 7+

Animated fairy tale with a twist has some scary scenes.

NR 2021 85 minutes
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Parents say

age 11+

Based on 10 reviews

Kids say

age 9+

Based on 19 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 some of the menacing characters in Charming could frighten young viewers, particularly the surreal painted man-eating creatures, the one-eyed Oracle, an evil witch, and a giant rock monster. In a somewhat emotional scene, Charming comes close to execution by guillotine on his own accord. But otherwise, the cartoon violence is mostly played for fun, and the fairy tale twist is silly and good-natured enough for almost all ages. Female characters are voiced by pop stars Avril Lavigne (Snow White), Demi Lovato (Lenore), G.E.M. (Sleeping Beauty), and Ashley Tisdale (Cinderella). The princesses are portrayed as a little vapid, while their stories involving evil stepmothers and 100-year naps are gently mocked as "messed up." Traditional gender roles are reversed: Lenore is the brave and smart leader who saves the prince. There's some flirtation and kissing.

Community Reviews

Me-and-she
Me-and-she Adult
April 30, 2021
age 18+

Absolute Garbage

The other ratings mentioning how little sense this movie makes, the harmful stereotypes, the absolute lack of depth, the number of times they show a male character kissing a sleeping female character, and the truly bizarre cannibalistic scenes are all true. It’s concerning in many ways but, after watching more than an hour of this questionable trash, the clincher came when the main male character tried to commit suicidal after learning his true love didn’t love him back. It even goes as far as putting a noose around his neck and having a seemingly normal conversation with his executioner. There are so many layers of disturbing sociopathy in this one scene I can hardly fathom how this movie made it to screen. We had a conversations about mental health, misogyny, consent, and control tactics, and I had to name “suicide ideology” for my 5 year old. She later asked me other ways people try to kill themselves. Really producers?!! This garbage? Of all the stories you could tell? This movie should be pulled off screens immediately.

This title has:

Too much violence
nayden
nayden Adult
April 14, 2021
age 14+

A bit wierd

I only watched the first quarter of the movie and already: as others have mentioned, there's a portrait of the prince nearly nude, prince looking at a woman's chest, and some sexual gestures indicating masturbation that I noticed. Not preferable for ages 20+ even, in my case.. definitely not the type of "Kid" movie I'd want to normalize.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

CHARMING, also known as Prince Philippe (Wilmer Valderrama), was blessed at birth with the ability to make any woman fall in love with him at first glance. But the blessing also came with a curse from the evil witch Nemeny Neverwish (Nia Vardalos), which meant that all love would disappear from their village upon Charming's 21st birthday unless he had kissed his true love. On the eve of that fateful day, Charming is engaged to not one but three princesses -- Cinderella (Ashley Tisdale), Snow White (Avril Lavigne), and Sleeping Beauty (G.E.M.) -- yet he's not sure he's actually in love with any of them. When he meets petty thief Lenore (Demi Lovato), he thinks he feels love for the first time. Lenore is hired in secret to help Charming "run the gauntlet" and surpass three epic challenges, also part of overcoming the evil curse. She dresses as a man to throw Charming off, but the two forge a close bond on their adventures. Will that bond result in true love? Is it enough to save the village?

Is It Any Good?

Charming aims for goofy fun and works in part due to some sweet and self-effacing characterizations, especially the prince played by Wilmer Valderrama. His inner monologues are endearing, like when he wonders why there's an echo in his head or when he can't come up with a coherent line to use on a girl. His knees turn to "paella" when he's around Lenore, and his optimistic outlook makes him blissfully unaware of some of his own shortcomings.

Meanwhile, the less charming princesses are humorously traumatized by their pasts: Sleeping Beauty is practically narcoleptic, while Snow White and Cinderella are overly anxious and a little paranoid. Snow White bolts when someone innocently offers her an apple. When they break out into song, however, it feels more like a concession to casting than a requisite of the story. The musical numbers are inconsistent in the narrative, and the surreal scene in the man-eater village feels like it's from a different film, like maybe Coco, rather than this one.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Charming reverses some of the usual storylines of classic fairy tales. What is the effect of making such changes? How did it make you feel that Lenore saved the prince in this story?

  • Other princesses make cameo appearances in the film. Who did you see?

  • What do you think was the inspiration for the depiction of the village of man-eating female creatures, who have painted bodies and bones hanging from strings?

  • Were any of the characters role models? If so, which ones?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

  • Godmothered Poster Image

    Godmothered

    Contemporary twist on fairy tale has mild language.

    age 8+
  • Enchanted Poster Image

    Enchanted

    Adorable fairy tale is a fabulous family flick.

    age 6+
  • Coco Poster Image

    Coco

    Stunningly animated, poignant tribute to family and culture.

    age 7+
  • Tangled Poster Image

    Tangled

    Fantastic princess adventure is fun, with great messages.

    age 5+
  • Shrek Poster Image

    Shrek

    Gross-out laughs meet a marvelous fairy tale mix.

    age 6+

Themes & Topics

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  • Cartoon princess crown
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  • Cartoon image of a microphone
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