Charming
Common Sense says
- NR
- 2021
- 85 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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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.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
This should NOT be rated G
Surprisingly decent for Vanguard Animation
Great movie!
An okay movie
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
- On DVD or streaming: January 8, 2021
- Cast: Wilmer Valderrama, Demi Lovato, Sia
- Director: Ross Venokur
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Fairy Tales, Music and Sing-Along
- Run time: 85 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: July 7, 2021
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