Penelope (2006)

52% of critics liked it
(125 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(152,431 ratings)

A kindly aristocrat suffering from an unsightly curse breaks free from her extravagant, prison-like estate to seek adventure and discover her true self in a romantic, modern-day fairy tale directed by Mark Palansky and starring Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Peter Dinklage, and Reese Witherspoon.… More A kindly aristocrat suffering from an unsightly curse breaks free from her extravagant, prison-like estate to seek adventure and discover her true self in a romantic, modern-day fairy tale directed by Mark Palansky and starring Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Peter Dinklage, and Reese Witherspoon. Generations ago, a witch placed a curse on the Wilhelm family that would result in the next girl being born into the clan having a porcine snout -- and now young Penelope (Ricci) has fallen victim to the vengeful hag's unsightly grudge. When tabloid reporter Lemon (Dinklage) runs a misleadingly frightening photograph of the kind-hearted Penelope, her parents, Jessica (Catherine O'Hara) and Franklin (Richard E. Grant), lock the girl away in a sprawling mansion. Though it is said that the curse can be lifted if a man of Penelope's status takes her hand in marriage, every man who lays eyes on the girl takes flight at first sight, never to return -- until the arrival of Max (McAvoy), that is. An unrepentant gambler with a heavy heart and an ulterior motive for meeting Penelope, Max is unexpectedly caught off guard by the pig-nosed girl's disarming charm, and suddenly flees before carrying out his nefarious plan. Now determined to throw caution to the wind and explore the world on her own terms, Penelope makes the acquaintance of independent-minded delivery girl Annie (Witherspoon), who fast agrees to join her newfound friend on the ultimate journey of self-discovery. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Mark Palansky
Written By: Leslie Caveny
Genres: Drama, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 8, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Jul 15, 2008
Studio: Summit Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
I think it's a sweet film.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
While uneven, this Ugly Duckling redux is hipper and funnier than a Disney movie, and the positive message to young girls can't be discounted.
Susan Walker, Toronto Star
The semi-satirical treatment of celebrity culture, as Penelope is treated first as a tabloid sensation then a media darling, is lame and dated.
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle
Director Palansky and screenwriter Leslie Caveny seem to have many of the right ingredients for creating something beguiling, but the film is, finally, surprisingly pedestrian. What a shame, with all these good performers.
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
The picture has a hapless, meandering quality that's tolerable at first but ultimately becomes maddening, as if it were a cartoon narrative recounted by a distracted 4-year-old.
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
Penelope was in a trough of trouble before the oink on the script was dry.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
Penelope suggests that peace comes through character, not cosmetic surgery. In this, it's smarter than Twilight...
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
I can truthfully say that watching this abysmal fantasy-comedy is less rewarding than being slapped across the face with a large wet fish.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Watchable but patchy fantasy romance that doesn't quite work, despite strong performances from Ricci and McAvoy.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
A modern-day fairytale, the film is tarted up like a hyperactive five-year-old's lurid fantasy of interior decor.
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile
Visually stylish, what might have been a cute fantasy becomes tedious due to its banal script and a relentless overload of pig-jokes.
Austin Kennedy, Sin Magazine
It's too bad that the second half turned out to be a drag, because I very much enjoyed the first half.
Bruce Bennett, Spectrum (St. George, Utah)
A diligent ensemble can't lift the film to anything higher than a shallow fairy tale with only worthy intentions.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
If this were a potion, it would be as simple as throwing in a little more energy with those pig parts, along with a few more zinger lines, and bam, you'd have a great film.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
With only a DNA witch's curse pig's snout compromising Ricci's otherwise exceedingly alluring physical assets, it doesn't make a lick of sense that prospective suitors are jumping out of windows after catching a glimpse of her disfigured beak.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
With only a DNA witch's curse pig's snout compromising Ricci's otherwise exceedingly alluring physical assets, it doesn't make a lick of sense that prospective suitors are jumping out of windows after catching a glimpse of her disfigured beak.
Beth Accomando, KPBS.org
Penelope is adorable and easy to watch thanks to the charms of its leads Ricci and McAvoy. But it's too much a mainstream Hollywood product and not enough of a spunky indie spirit to really win audiences over.
Anna Smith, Film4
Is this meant to be dark comedy? It's hard to tell.

Read all 18 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Candy R

Penelope (Christina Ricci) is cursed with a pig nose so her family are in pursuit of a suitor who will break the curse. James McAvoy is great in this movie. A bit of an unusual role for Reese Witherspoon but she's great too. It is certificate U but some scenes might be a bit… More
Penelope (Christina Ricci) is cursed with a pig nose so her family are in pursuit of a suitor who will break the curse. James McAvoy is great in this movie. A bit of an unusual role for Reese Witherspoon but she's great too. It is certificate U but some scenes might be a bit scarey for young kids.
Cassie H

A movie that's too adorable for words with true love mixed right in :)
Jennifer D

It definitely lulled in the middle and a few other parts. But it was still a cutey. I love fairy tales and love, so this was some winners. Plus James McAvoy is crazy fucking hot. So yummy. And Catherine O'Hara is genius always and forever.
Richard C

this wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. i thought it was going to be horrible but it was actually a good movie. it's nothing special or great and it's cliches and predictable and wierd at times but it's sweet and isn't really stupid or boring like… More
this wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. i thought it was going to be horrible but it was actually a good movie. it's nothing special or great and it's cliches and predictable and wierd at times but it's sweet and isn't really stupid or boring like most kids movies. B-
Spencer S

Penelope makes you want to stop being so vain, and start being a bit more of a flexible person. Worth seeing indefinitely.
♥˩ƳИИ &

CAST: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Simon Woods, Catherine O'Hara, Richard E. Grant, Peter Dinklage, Reese Witherspoon, Ronni Ancon, Michael Feast DIRECTED BY: Mark Palansky SUMMARY: A modern romantic tale about a young aristocratic heiress born under a curse that can only… More
CAST: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Simon Woods, Catherine O'Hara, Richard E. Grant, Peter Dinklage, Reese Witherspoon, Ronni Ancon, Michael Feast DIRECTED BY: Mark Palansky SUMMARY: 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." MY THOUGHTS: "Well I really had no desire to see this flick, but considering all the good actors it had going for it, I decided, why not? I really enjoyed the whole story. Mostly the characters. Liked Reese in this film, and loved James and Christina. The story has a good message and good acting. So give it watch. You may like it more then you think.. I know I did."
Conner R

I think this is probably one of the most tolerable modern fairy tale's i've seen. The cast was really great and James McAvoy and Christina Ricci really worked well together. The story has a really good message and it avoids most of the cliches that come with stories like… More
I think this is probably one of the most tolerable modern fairy tale's i've seen. The cast was really great and James McAvoy and Christina Ricci really worked well together. The story has a really good message and it avoids most of the cliches that come with stories like these.
Kylie B

All that fuss over a snout? I've seen uglier pushing strollers in town centres. The film is average. Its 'message', its plot, the way it was shot...all average. Even Richard E. Grant was average, and he is rarely ever that mundane an actor. Ronni Ancona was WASTED in… More
All that fuss over a snout? I've seen uglier pushing strollers in town centres. The film is average. Its 'message', its plot, the way it was shot...all average. Even Richard E. Grant was average, and he is rarely ever that mundane an actor. Ronni Ancona was WASTED in her pitifully small and inconsequential role.
Leigh R

This movie is so cute. WELL DONE!
Tim S

Here's the thing....I get it, it's a fantasy and it's not for people like me who have given up on the world and are completely cynical, but that doesn't mean you can throw out all logic to tell the story. It looked and felt like one of those movies that is on at… More
Here's the thing....I get it, it's a fantasy and it's not for people like me who have given up on the world and are completely cynical, but that doesn't mean you can throw out all logic to tell the story. It looked and felt like one of those movies that is on at Best Buy during the day because it doesn't offend anyone and has the look of an hour and a half long music video. And shame on Peter Dinklage for taking all of the Warwick Davis roles. I will say that there are some pretty people to look at (dude, come on, McAvoy is a hot guy), but there is also a lot of wasted talent involved as well (O'Hara, Witherspoon).
jay n

Sweet fable, Richard E. Grant and especially Catherine O'Hara are highly amusing as the parents.
Film C

a lovely light hearted movie with a great cast a good sense of humour and a nice movie to watch
Arash X

I'm giving this such a high rating because it was one of the few tolerable fairy tales that I've ever seen, If you want to make a feel-good fairytale with a cliche moral & an annoying lead like Ricci please make it like this
danny d

the ladies will love this flick. my wife has seen it 5 times at least. theres nothing necessarily bad about the flick, although a few scenes fail under logic, but when the flick was over i just didnt care much that i had seen it. the cornerstone of what it means to be average.
Alice S

Sweet and cute, but the breaking of the spell was a little too easy (in terms of cinematic climax, not Penelope's existential crisis). Max should have done something grander to prove his love. James McAvoy is so hot.
Chris W

Funny, whimsical, charming, and features some good performances from a nice cast.
Jennifer X

Good fairy tale essence mixed with real life experience. Christina Ricci has just the right kind of face to pull this off, kinda oddball but all the same adorable. Judging from the storyline, this movie is 100% what I expected it to be. It was too long, though.
Nani V

Unique fairytale, sorta movie. Loved it!
Summer W

I very much enjoyed it. It's a modern, live-action fairy tell with a nice message. Plus, James McAvoy is a cutie.
Nicki M

Sweet, fairy tale type movie. Resse Witherspoon is barely in this, which surprised me, but quite honestly Christina Ricci and James McAvoy steal the film anyhow. It has a great message to it and is a film all ages would enjoy.