Ever After: A Cinderella Story

Light and enjoyable take on Cinderella is sprightly and energetic for the most part, with some fun liberties taken with the story to mould around 90s feminist sensibilities. Provides a well chosen supporting cast with some grand opportunities for fun, especially a scene-stealing Huston who mines some reasonable pathos from her portrait of the “wicked stepmother”, and held together by Barrymore at the peak of her 90s rom-com charm. The freshness of the approach can’t quite counteract the ultimate familiarity, resulting in a last act which drags its feet a little bit (and essentially wastes an amusingly snide O’Brien), but it’s still good entertainment.