USCCB’s Review of Happily N’Ever After

While 2006 was a banner year for computer-animated films, 2007 gets off to a below par start with Happily N'Ever After (Lionsgate).

The storybook send-up is set in a once-upon-a-time realm, where wicked stepmother Frieda (Sigourney Weaver) swipes a wizard's magic staff, which enables her to rewrite classic fairy tales so they have unhappy endings. It's up to Cinderella (voiced by Sarah Michelle Gellar) — here called "Ella" — to set things right, aided by the wizard's two bungling assistants: the snout-nosed Munk (Wallace Shawn) and a wisecracking purple imp named Mambo (Andy Dick).

Ella also finds herself torn between her vainglorious Prince Charming (Patrick Warburton) and his beleaguered but brave manservant, Rick (Freddie Prinze Jr.).

Though produced by John H. Williams, who also produced the Shrek movies, director Paul J. Bolger's parody falls well short of those films' sharp wit, superior animation and charm, but its lively tone, colorful look and cute premise, nevertheless, prove modestly entertaining as family fare.

The film contains some mildly crude humor and expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I — general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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