Happily N'Ever After

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I am fortunate enough to be able to screen screen films before they hit the theaters for public viewing for free and the latest film I saw was Happily N'Ever After. The film stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and his wife Sarah Michelle Geller as well as George Carlin, Patrick Warburton, Andy D., Wallace Shawn, and Sigourny Weaver. The film is another rendition of Cinderella but with a twist. Much like Ella Enchanted or Shrek but not as noteworthy. There are many reasons I did not like this film. The first would be that Freddie Prinze Jr. does narrates but badly. The plot is recycled and the moral lesson is cliched as well as recycled. The worst crime of the film though would have to be the list of stars in the film that do not have their strengths taken advantage of. You might remember Patrick Warburton from The Tic the live action comedy or as a voice from many Disney films. The man has turned dry humor into an art form but in this film he is given very few lines to work with and most of them are your average stock one liners that come off stiff and unfunny. George Carlin, who might draw in the Kevin Smith fans, is given only a five second part in the film. Why did they even bother crediting him to the film. Andy D. and Wallace Shawn do not mesh well together as assitance to The Wizard. Shawn has always been a safety actor whose voice has lended his voice to many Disney characters while Andy D. made his vocal acting film debute in the film Hoodwinked but does not carry over the enthusiasm he had on that film. The only one who really puts their all into it is Sigourny Weaver who plays the wicked step mother. As for Prinxe Jr. and Gellar, the film mostly relies on their part but both come off very artificial, and with good reason since the roles they were cast into hardly have any life in them whatsoever. If you have not seen Night at the Museum I would suggest taking your kids to see that if you must take them to see anything and avoid Happily N'Ever After until you can watch it on cable. The audience gave very few laughs and none of the characters had any pull to get you to bond with them.