About the film
Ella Enchanted is a 2004 American jukebox musical fantasy comedy film directed by Tommy O'Haver and written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, loosely based on Gail Carson Levine's 1997 novel of the same name. Starring Anne Hathaway and Hugh Dancy, the film is a satire of the fairy tale genre.
As an infant, Ella receives a misguided present from her fairy godmother, a spell to be constantly obedient, a fact she must hide from everyone especially from her new stepfamily in order to protect the prince and soon to be king, a friend she is falling for.
An international co-production between companies in the United States, Ireland and United Kingdom, the film was a box-office bomb and received mixed critical reviews. It was heavily criticized for its changes to the source material and addition of new characters, and Levine stated that the film is "so different from the book that it's hard to compare them" and suggested "regarding the movie as a separate creative act". The film can be seen as a feminist re-working of the classic Cinderella, offering a message of self-determination and individual empowerment to counter the typical passive acceptance of fate. It has become a popular cult classic, with stars including Dancy making appearances at fan conventions.
