Ella EnchantedMovie Reviews

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 53 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
8 OK for kids 8+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 88
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    A high-spirited charmer, a fantasy that sparkles with delights. Read full review

  • 83
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    The hoot and giggle of a girl-power fairy tale blended from potions of ''Monty Python,'' ''Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,'' and ''Shrek.'' Read full review

  • 75
    San Francisco Chronicle | Ruthe Stein

    The movie doesn't aspire to be art, merely to entertain adolescent girls, which is practically guaranteed by the luminous presence of Anne Hathaway. Read full review

  • 70
    The New York Times | Dave Kehr

    The messages blend seamlessly into the fantasy and comedy in what is surely one of the best films for older children in quite some time. Read full review

  • 70
    Washington Post | Michael O'Sullivan

    In the end, it may leave its audience, young and old alike, just as charmed as its bewitched young heroine. Read full review

  • 60
    Washington Post |

    Good and entertaining fun. Read full review

  • 50
    Los Angeles Times | Kevin Thomas

    Likely to cast its spell primarily on adolescent girls, while their elders might well find it more than a little tedious in its familiarity and artificiality. Read full review

  • 50
    Variety | David Rooney

    The glue that holds the sweet teen-fantasy together is star Anne Hathaway, who continues to evolve into a luminous young lead. Read full review

  • 50
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    It has a few moments of fun and whimsy, but it lacks the joyous spirit and intelligent humor of the children's novel on which it's based. Read full review

  • 40
    The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt

    Nothing un-beguiles a fairy tale more than forced whimsy and labored magic, which is precisely what plagues Ella Enchanted. Read full review


Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 8+ Endearing, enduring, and lots of fun.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that the movie has some crude language ("bite me" "cute butt") and social drinking. It is supposed to be humorous when a character gets tipsy and has a drinking problem. There is violence, including fighting, knives, and swordplay and characters are in peril. A character is hit in the crotch in a slapstick fight. In a more serious fight, it appears that a character is killed, but it turns out not to be the case. Ella's mother becomes ill and dies. Ella is ordered to shoplift and due to the curse, must obey.
  • Families can talk about what it was that made it possible for Ella to break the curse. What did she have to learn or feel to make that happen? They may want to talk about the theme of discrimination and segregation in the story. What creates prejudice?
What to watch for
  • violence false0 Violence and scariness: Characters in peril; no one hurt. Ella's mother becomes ill and dies.
  • sex false0 Sexy stuff: Romantic kiss.
  • language false0 Language: Some crude language.
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Social drinking, character abuses alcohol, comic tipsiness.

Ella Enchanted Movie Ratings + Reviews

Fans say

Go 3 fan reviews

Critics say

So-so See all critic reviews

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