‘EVER AFTER’: A CLASSIC FAIRY TALE FAVORITE

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With a popular film star (now turned daily show host) and a timeless story, Ever After is one of those movies that can appeal to more than one generation.

Ever After (1998) Film Review

Once upon a time is always how the story begins, but it’s the real story that a woman begins to tell the two storytellers she summons to her bedside. This story is about Danielle De Barbarac, a young girl who loves her father very much. When he re-marries and brings home a stepmother and two stepsisters, everything is different. But the real tragedy begins when he dies suddenly leaving Danielle the resented orphan child that her stepmother (Anjelica Huston) treats as a servant.

Danielle (Drew Barrymore) grows up living in her own home as a servant, but she never forgets what her father instilled in her, and she becomes a woman still holding onto her kind heart. When she serendipitously meets Prince Henry (Dougray Scott), her boldness intrigues him, but it’s this chance encounter that could change her life forever.

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‘EVER AFTER’: A CLASSIC FAIRY TALE FAVORITE. #DrewBarrymore stars in this 1998 #fairytale that re-tells the #Cinderella legend. #Movies #Romance #RomanceMovie #PeriodDrama Share on X

Re-watching the films I watched time and again as a kid and later teenager is always an interesting exercise. Will I find it as enchanting as I did then? Will I view it differently? Is the story still “enough” to the interest of adult me? These are all questions that you wonder when you re-watch something, especially something like Ever After which I haven’t seen for a longer period of time. And as we speak today, I still haven’t since I didn’t make the time.

This film, from my memories and like others in its peer group is lovely. You can see how Disney’s Cinderella takes inspiration from this, which obviously is a re-telling of the famous fable. The story is a more “realistic” version of the fairy tale, albeit still one with plenty of magic, just not the literal kind. There’s no talking mice or fairy godmother, but even with those missing pieces, the film still sparkles. The cast makes up for this too with their starry performances. Whether it’s the sparkle Barrymore infuses into her leading lady or the wicked gleam of Huston, the cast is top notch. Both women are great in their roles, and its interesting to see how Huston plays the stepmother as if she almost emotionally breaks. The scene where this is most evident is well played by both Barrymore and Huston.

Everything about Ever After is pretty much enchanting. There is something about this variation, even in a story we’ve seen many ways, that is just timeless. It transcends filmmaking “rules,” much like some of the best classics do, and while this may not be a classic by normal standards, it’s still a memorable film worth re-watching.

At publication, you can find Ever After on Hulu; or find it to rent or buy digitally on streaming places like Prime.

Content: there is some cruelty towards Danielle. She’s spoken down to and belittled, but also physically abused on at least one occasion. The film is PG.

Photos: 20^th Century Fox

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