Another Cinderella Story

I can presume it’s quite difficult because the concept of Cinderella has been done to death and here you are trying to make your own modern version. How in the world is one supposed to come up with something new to an already defined story? What can be added to make it relatable to the youth today? This is where the answer appears to be “I don’t know. Uhm, do what Disney Channel does?”.

Spanish singer Selena Gomez starred alongside C-list heartthrob Drew Seeley in Another Cinderella Story. Mary Santiago, a maid and adopted daughter of an elder singer, is portrayed by Gomez while Seeley plays pop idol Joey Parker who starts is completing his last year of highschool. The two have one common interest, and that’s music.

Mary on the other hand, suffers from poor character development throughout the film. Compared to Bella Swan, she seems a lot more bland, dull and emotionless. In the end the character turns out to be an empty vessel great for the viewers tow sit and imagine their own emotions and agency onto the character. The only goal of romance in the movies is so employment agencies can throw them invitations. But for Mary, the employment agency sends an invitation and guardian says she’s forbidden to go. The in the end nothing can be done about the status. What’s worse is she is forced to be driven around. It’s such a big problem, that in the last 40 minutes there is no discussion. Whereas on the other hand the lead gets a boyfriend and joins a dance school.

There was indeed a point addressed by our editor, Joseph Wade. It was the excessive focus of the male character romance in romantic comedies.

Joey is so much more than a prince in a Cinderella story and I don’t understand what is so fascinating about him, because all he can do is dance and sing. He goes on these pointless missions of finding this mystery girl who he claims to have danced with, that’s where he gets most annoying during lunch breaks and even in class. It doesn’t help that Seeley isn’t exactly Zac Efron (though he did play his singing voice in High School Musical) when the movie wants you to think he is the hottest person alive.

The movie we are critiquing is over the top and should not have been made in the first place. The pacing of the movie is all over the place. They build it up to the point where Mary needs to out dance her competition and in doing so, the dude would realize Mary is the Cinderella he was looking for. As we begin act two, already witness a dance competition that had the ball set as one of the plots alongside mary and the guy dating sooner than expected. Watching that montage of chores was fun and everything but if I’m being honest that romantic twist towards the end was such a weak move to make. Would have loved to see mary finally overcome her anxiety and give the dance a shot because winning that competition should have been worth the hype but instead out of nowhere Mary gets called on stage and is forced to dance. Makes little sense but hey it is what it is.

Other than Jane Lynch whose acting as a has been pop star in desperate need to mark her return, there is nothing worth mentioning. The character has montages of being in a somewhat abusive relationship with her step mom and Joanne and the combination of the two help the world make sense.

Mary, along with her friends, was attempting to enter a van when she began hurling insults at them in a most blunt manner. She stated, “There is no need for any redemption nor repentance,” while continuing to insult the group. For me, that comical scene and her delivery of terrible lines was absolutely hilarious in the movie. I’m sure the producers paid her a lot for this.

That is why the sequel, Almost Cinderella, fits the pattern of being a sequel fit for DVD/Tv use. Plot wise, this movie is about as original as it gets, very common fantasy plot. Plenty of reviews also believe that this movie has not shown much creativity compared to the 2004 version that was released earlier. All in all, there are much better movies to watch, this is a bad one, and probably better to avoid watching it or if you do then watch it as an inside joke with your friends.

Watch “Another Cinderella Story” For Free on Gomovies.