Happily N’Ever After

MPAA Rating: PG for some mild action and rude humor
Release Date: Jan. 5, 2007

This movie is the ultimate anti-fairytale. And that’s a good thing. It takes place in Fairy Tale Land where Cinderella (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is rockin’ out at the ball, Rapunzel is letting her lovely hair down from the tower, and Sleeping Beauty is about to get that big smooch.

But just as everything seems headed for happily EVER after, things take a turn for the worse. The wise Wizard who keeps the scales of Good and Evil in balance goes on vacation, leaving his two assistants, Munk and Mambo in charge. But they slip up and let Cinderella’s power-crazed Wicked Stepmother get hold of the Wizard’s magical staff. Her evil plan: to take over Fairy Tale Land, let the Bad Guys win, and turn the end of all the stories to Happily N’EVER After!

With everything in turmoil, Cinderella (Ella to her friends) has to shed her damsel-in-distress mode, become the leader of a resistance force, and restore the balance of Good and Evil. Forget waiting for the handsome prince to find her.

Don’t worry, though. Ella’s got her best pal, Rick (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) — the Prince’s servant who’s secretly in love with her — at her side, along with an unlikely army of Dwarves, Fairies, Munk, and Mambo to back her up. Can she save the day and find love where she least expects it? Who knows. But we will get to see some awesome girl-power in the meantime.

This movie has lots of action and some very funny characters (Andy Dick as Mambo is a hoot). It also offers some modern alternatives to fairytale endings that, let’s face it, aren’t always realistic. How often does Prince Charming sweep a girl off her feet?! Let’s be real here. Better to find your own way in the world.

This movie also has a killer soundtrack with new songs performed by Population Music, along with some oldies such as “Monster Mash” and “Disco Inferno”.