Young children will be pulled into this fantasy, and hang onto each of the magical moments typical of a Disney production: they will feel Ella’s tears at her family’s early distresses, share her joy as she makes her entrance and dances at the sumptuous set-piece Ball, be gripped by her panic as she flees at midnight, and rejoice in her pluck as she confronts her version of Disney’s always-present evil, female tyrant.
Yet there are moments for parents too.
Kenneth Branagh (Thor, Henry V) laces his conventional version of our timeless story with contemporary morality about bravery and kindness, and satisfyingly supplies back-stories to explain characters’ motivations. Everyone seems to be struggling with family identity. We even understand why Ella’s Stepmother fights to protect her own brood (the marvellously malevolent Cate Blanchett).
Helena Bonham Carter’s Fairy Godmother has her own ‘Ball’, and any family would have welcomed more of her comedic relief (though not her bizarre end-credit ‘Bippity Boppity Boo’ tribute to the animation classic).
This is Lily James’ movie (Lady Rose of Downton Abbey). The camera loves her, and your children will too. She portrays Ella perfectly as the ingénue with inner strength. Rarely off-screen, she captivates you on it – no matter what your age! Not just titular heroine, she is the movie’s heartbeat. Her initial optimism then continued, transparent goodness make you believe in her decline to scullery maid.
Perhaps over-long by 20 minutes, I still exited this decent interpretation embraced by a warm afterglow.
(This review first appeared on Vue Cinema's website as my entry shortlisted in that organisation's 2015 Family Movies People's Pundit competition)