Ella Enchanted reimagines Cinderella as a self-aware jukebox fantasy, pairing fairy tale spoofing with a surprisingly heartfelt story about autonomy. Dismissed by critics and audiences upon its release in 2004, it went on to become a cult classic with audiences.

In the kingdom of Lamia, Ella of Frell (Anne Hathaway) is cursed at birth with the “gift” of obedience by the misguided fairy godmother Lucinda Perriweather (Vivica A. Fox), compelling her to obey any direct command. Before dying, her mother, Lady Eleanor (Donna Dent), warns her to keep the curse secret. Years later, her father, Sir Peter (Patrick Bergin), remarries the vain Dame Olga (Joanna Lumley). Olga’s daughter Hattie (Lucy Punch) discovers Ella’s condition and cruelly exploits it, prompting Ella to seek a way to break the spell.

With help from the household fairy Mandy (Minnie Driver) and her enchanted book-turned-boyfriend Benny (Jimi Mistry), Ella journeys toward Giantville. She befriends Slannen (Aidan McArdle), an elf who longs to become a lawyer, and reconnects with Prince “Char” Charmont (Hugh Dancy). As Ella opens Char’s eyes to the kingdom’s unjust laws—engineered by his uncle, Regent Edgar (Cary Elwes)—romance blossoms between them.

When Edgar learns of Ella’s curse, he orders her to murder Char at his coronation, revealing he killed the prince’s father to claim power. Struggling against the command, Ella ultimately breaks the spell herself, rejecting obedience in a pivotal moment. With allies including elves, giants, and ogres, she exposes Edgar’s poisoned-crown plot, saves Char, and helps usher in a more equal reign.

Until Tuesday night, I might have watched Ella Enchanted once or twice after its release. I’ve heard through the years that the book is not the same as the film. That’s fine. Gail Carson Levine’s book will always be there, and the film can exist independently on its own. Personally, I never read the book, but I remember enjoying the film when I saw it in 2004. Anyway, I didn’t get around to rewatching Ella Enchanted for the 20th anniversary in 2004 and don’t feel like waiting around until 2029 for the 25th anniversary, so here we are.

Given the fairy tale genre, you’d be forgiven if you thought it was a Disney film. That’s the surprising part—Ella Enchanted wasn’t released by a studio known for releasing a number of animated fairy tales, including the earlier Cinderella and its later live-action remake. Technically speaking, of course, at the time of Ella Enchanted’s release, Miramax Films was owned by The Walt Disney Company. The script isn’t above pointing out just how characters feel about the Brothers Grimm or other people’s pre-supposed thoughts about them. That’s the beauty of its satire—not to mention how it subverts the genre through its focus on girl power.

Most girls or women tend to be powerless in fairy tales. What we have in Ella Enchanted is someone who has to make choices and save the kingdom. It’s just that, thanks to Lucinda, she’s cursed to be obedient and forced to do what others tell her to do. Her journey to save the kingdom just happens to put her on a path to intersect with Char and fall in love with him. Only this time, there’s no having to wear glass slippers. On screen, Anne Hathaway brings the physical comedy that the role demands of her.

As far as Lamia goes, it’s medieval with a mixture of modern-day elements. The beauty of bringing fairy tales to life in Ella Enchanted—even when spoofing the genre—is that they can do whatever they want. If they want to play with colors, they can do just that. Giants are given a modern feel. All in all, the filmmakers play with the imagination while giving things a contemporary edge, all while filming on location in Ireland. The skies are vast, and the hills are incredible.

Shrek set the bar high when it came to fairy tale spoofs. But you know what? Ella Enchanted is equally entertaining in its own way. Music plays a very big part. It’s very Disney for a non-Disney film. You have Anne Hathaway belting out Queen’s “Somebody to Love” during a wedding reception in Giantville and joining the cast during an ending sequence—alongside Jesse McCartney—covering Elton John and Kiki Dee’s “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart.” The film’s soundtrack also includes another Hathaway song, a remixed cover of Leo Sayer’s “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.” Other songs make their way onto the soundtrack about make-believe or believing in yourself.

All in all, Ella Enchanted is a charming, surprisingly clever fairy tale that balances humor, adventure, and heart. Its playful subversion of genre tropes, imaginative world-building, and memorable musical moments make it a joy to revisit. Anne Hathaway’s performance carries both comedic timing and warmth, while the supporting cast and colorful design add layers of fun and personality. Decades later, it remains a lively, entertaining film that stands on its own, independent of the book, and continues to delight audiences new and old.

DIRECTOR: Tommy O’Haver
SCREENWRITERS: Laurie Craig and Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith and Jennifer Heath & Michelle J. Wolff
CAST: Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Cary Elwes, Vivica A. Fox, Joanna Lumley, Jimi Mistry, Steve Coogan, Aidan McArdle, Heidi Klum, Jim Carter, Jennifer Higham, Parminder Nagra, Lucy Punch, with Minnie Driver, Patrick Bergin, and Eric Idle

Miramax Films released Ella Enchanted in theaters on April 9, 2004. Grade: 4.5/5

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