I think I've mentioned before that I'm not a huge fan of Cinderella. I guess the whole story just bums me out. Abuse is not awesome. But I found this gem on Netflix and decided to give it a whirl. I am so angry. It's rare that a movie makes me angry because it's so bad, but this has moved to the top of the list. it's also rare for me to hate a movie at all, because I genuinely love terrible movie (I'm looking at you every Hallmark movie ever made).
I didn't watch the preview for this one because they generally reveal the entire plot, including the end, so I was completely unprepared for the MUSICAL NUMBERS! And oh man, were they awful. I don't begrudge a movie for inserting musical numbers. I ordinarily love them. I have participated in musicals. My parents met as actors in a musical. They are my heritage. But when you cast two beautiful people who CAN'T SING as lead characters in a musical, you're gonna have a bad time. I ended up fast forwarding through most of them because I just could not handle the auto-tune. It was painful.
Our Cinderella in this version is named Kat (short for Kathryn, which is my name), so right off the bat I was all in. She is played by Laura Marano, who can also be seen in the Neflix Original Movie The Perfect Date, and several Disney productions, who I blame for making her think she's a singer. I recognized no one else in this film.
The story goes mostly how you would expect a Cinderella story to go. No real surprises. I was able to look past most of the plot holes (why does a 17 year old have two full time jobs??), the terrible acting, and the obviously not winter weather. But there was just one aspect that I could not get over. Kat has a pet French bulldog named Bruno, who is in a wheelchair. I love him and I want to take him home. The step family (lovingly referred to as "The Steps" by Kat) is awful to him throughout the movie. They never physically harm him, but they very clearly hate him. I cannot. Treating Kat the way the do is hard enough to watch. But the way they treat this helpless animal is so unnecessary. And the worst part of this, and the reason I think I hated this movie so much, is that at the end (SPOILER ALERT) after Kat has been rescued by her prince, there is no resolution for Bruno! What happened to him? Has he been left with the terrible steps? Does Kat go and rescue him? Does he make his own escape? I need a sequel, and I need it to be Bruno's story. Hopefully a story that ends with him at my house. Forever. I literally could not sleep that night because I was so distressed about poor, poor Bruno. I know it's a movie, and that the real dog (who the internet tells me is named Capone) is ok. But in an alternate universe, he is out there. Lost and alone.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, that if you are desperate for a Christmas movie, and have nothing else to watch, maybe don't watch this one. It's available for streaming on Netflix, and for $1.99 you can rent it on Amazon (but for sure don't do that.)
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