Movie Review: A Cinderella Story

One of my favorite movies not just of my school days but of all time. Released in 2004, A Cinderella Story took the classic fairy-tale and modernized as well as twisted it; to make the story more relatable to the people watching. Starring two of the hottest young stars at the time as our Cinderella and Prince Charming may have also played a part. Not sure why I should say it given everyone knows the Cinderella tale but just in case spoiler alert. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Our Cinderella in this movie is Sam Montgomery (Hilary Duff). She loves baseball, her widowed dad’s diner and dreams of going to Princeton. Feeling Sam needs a mother figure her dad Hal (Whip Hubley) marries Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge) who seemed sweet when they met, but is clearly a self-absorbed gold digger. She brings along her twin daughters Brianna (Madeline Zima) and Gabriella (Andrea Avery) who are both dumb and selfish. Hal is killed during the 1994 Northridge earthquake and because he apparently did not make a will Fiona gets everything, including Sam to both of their dismays. Years later Sam is a servant in her own home and diner while her step family makes it look like they are living a good life (they happily water their lawns despite being told to conserve water during the drought). Because she works at the diner Sam is made fun of at her school by the popular kids, specifically head cheerleader Shelby (Julie Gonzalo). Sam it seems only has a few friends: her lifelong friend Carter (Dan Byrd) who is trying to be an actor and has an obvious crush on Shelby (he is blind to her mean ways), the people who work at the diner long before Fiona got there and her online pen pal Nomad she met in a Princeton chat room. They have a lot in common in their lives and dreams about Princeton, but they have never met. Unbeknownst to Sam, Nomad is actually Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray) the high school quarterback, most popular guy in school and Shelby’s ex-boyfriend (which she has not come to terms with). He wants to go to Princeton but his dad that he wants Austin to go to the University of Southern California to play football.

Nomad wants to meet with Sam during the homecoming dance, but Sam is scared to (not to mention Fiona forced her to work the night of the dance). Rhonda (Regina King) Sam’s sassy other best friend at the diner and wanting to stick it to Fiona helps Sam get ready for the dance in a very Cinderella like dress and mask. Sam and Austin meet and to say Sam was thrown that the hottest guy in school is her pen pal would be an understatement. The two spend the evening talking and the two fall in love. However Sam is forced to leave before midnight in order to get back to the diner before Fiona gets there, but drops her phone as she and Carter (who in his Zorro costume finally managed to woo Shelby) escape. Austin finds her phone and the next day puts up fliers asking his Cinderella to come forward (which causes many girls to claim they are Cinderella including Brianna and Gabriella in hilarious fashion). Sam tries to tell Austin she is Cinderella, but is scared to because of how popular he is and how unpopular she is. About as far as I should go without giving away the rest of the movie, although I will say the last forty minutes are very satisfying.

Hilary Duff was my favorite actress when I was younger, and this to me was her best role. Watching Sam’s character development was amazing, especially the final parts of the movie when she comes in to her own. Chad Michael Murray was also a personal favorite of mine and again watching his character grow is fascinating. Jennifer Coolidge is wickedly good as Fiona, Dan Byrd is hilarious and Regina King is sassy and golden (one of my favorite characters in the entire franchise). Yes in case you didn’t know there are three more Cinderella story movies after this one staring popular teen stars, but those are for another day. I love this movie so much (although I would not call it must see) and if you like romantic high school comedies than this is the one for you.

Movie Review: Easy A

While this was most definitely not her first role, I think the world got to just how good Emma Stone is in what many considered to be her breakout role as a leading lady; she was also nominated for a Golden Globe for this role. Released in 2010, Easy A showed just why a little white lie can turn into a big, huge mess, and partially inspired by the book I’m sure we all had to read in high school The Scarlet Letter. I would even call this a must see for high school students and young adults. If you haven’t seen this movie, a spoiler alert is issued. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Not wanting to spend time with her best friend’s Rhiannon (Aly Michalka) hippie parents, Olive (Emma Stone) says she has a date for the weekend, in actuality she sings along to the greeting card she got from her grandmother. Come Monday pressured by Rhiannon Olive says she lost her virginity, which is overheard by Marianne Bryant (Amanda Bynes) a prissy Christian student who spreads the rumor. Of course this isn’t true which Olive confides in her friend Brandon (Dan Byrd) who is bullied because he is gay. Brandon convinces Olive to say she had sex with him, which she agrees to. Now with reputation as the school tramp, Olive decides to embrace it, putting an A on her clothes inspired by The Scarlet Letter. Boys who do not have a chance with girls ask Olive to say she slept with them and gets gift cards in return. Rhiannon is outraged and ends her friendship with Olive, joining Marianne’s religious group trying to force Olive out of the school. It gets worse when Marianne’s boyfriend Micah (Cam Gigandet) gets chlamydia and blames Olive, when it was actually the married guidance counselor Mrs. Griffith (Lisa Kudrow) the wife of Olive’s favorite teacher Mr. Griffith (Thomas Haden Church). The only people who believe Olive are her parents Rosemary and Dill (Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci) as well as her crush Todd (Penn Badgley) but soon Olive must decide whether her fake reputation is worth all the trouble. About as far as I can go without spoiling the rest of the movie.

While I definitely think no high school is like this one, this film is still amazing; showing how one small little lie can turn into a disaster. While she had been in other movies Emma Stone shined very bright in this film and for me at least showed that she was more than capable of being a lead role. She has not slowed down since, but those movies are for another time. Amanda Bynes was one of my favorite actresses when I was younger and was both happy and impressed with her character in this movie; it is not often she is the villain. I don’t think she’s acted in anything since then, but I wish her the best in whatever she is doing. Penn Badgley is great as is the rest of the cast. The writing and cinematography are my favorite parts of the movie, but I cannot forget the musical number at the end of the film showcasing Stone’s abilities, which is why before the nominations came in I knew she would be great in La La Land. I would highly recommend this film for high school students and young adults as I think they may find the material relatable, no not the tramp stuff but keeping a reputation in high school. I promise you will not be disappointed.