Penelope (2006)

Director:

Mark Palansky

Writer (WGA):

Leslie Caveny (written by)

Release Date:

29 February 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

A fairytale like no other.

Plot:

A modern romantic tale about a young aristocratic heiress born under a curse that can only be broken when she finds true love with "one who will love her faithfully."

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Paparazzi | Mother Daughter Relationship | Marriage Proposal | Aristocrat

Cast

Christina Ricci	...	Penelope
James McAvoy	...	Max
Catherine O'Hara	...	Jessica Wilhern
Reese Witherspoon	...	Annie
Peter Dinklage	...	Lemon
Richard E. Grant	...	Franklin Wilhern
Simon Woods	...	Edward Humphrey Vanderman III
Ronni Ancona	...	Wanda
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Russell Brand	...	Sam
Martin Nigel Davey	...	Street Vendor
Tallulah Evans	...	Little Girl - Photo Booth
Michael Feast	...	Jake
Nick Frost	...	Max Campion
Burn Gorman	...	Larry
Christina Greatrex	...	Mrs. Vanderman
Nigel Havers	...	Edward Vanderman Jr.
Jillian Henry	...	Young Penelope (voice)
Lenny Henry	...	Krull
Paul Herbert	...	Leonard Wilhern
Richard James	...	Card Dealer
Richard Leaf	...	Jack the Barman
Rubria Marcheens Negrao	...	Hotel Clerk
Nick Shafer	...	(voice)
John Voce	...	Duty Cop

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements, some innuendo and language. (foreign cut)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:PG (foreign cut) | Ireland:PG | South Korea:12 | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:I | Singapore:PG | Taiwan:GP | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Hall Barn, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Stone Village Pictures

Trivia:

Delivered to some theaters under the codename "Scarfy",

Goofs:

Continuity: When Max/John first plays the piano, his fingernails are chewed to the quick. The hands later playing the piano expertly have well-manicured nails.

Quotes:

Annie: So what are you hiding from the law or is it just a bad nose job?
Penelope: Mhm, bad nose job.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2008-03-01)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Hoppipolla

A Beautiful Film!

I saw "Penelope" at the US premiere at CineVegas last week. It has a very sweet message about self-acceptance that we could all use a little more of these days. I loved the hyper- real, brightly colored, Tim Burtonesque look of the film, it helped to accentuate the fairy tale aspect.

I also thought all of the performances, especially Christina Ricci and Katherine O'Hara, were excellent. Reese Witherspoon as a leather wearing, gum chewing, scooter riding messenger girl seemed a bit miscast, but she was actually good and had one of the funnier lines of the film.

While there's nothing laugh out loud funny, this sweet story makes you smile again and again.

I would recommend this film for audiences of all ages because I don't think you're ever too old for it's message and it doesn't talk down to an adult audience.