'Penelope' Is Definately Not Hogwash

'Penelope' is a 2006 modern fairy tale film set in London. Penelope Wilhern (Christina Ricci) is just like any other aristocratic young woman.

Her mother, Jessica Wilhern (Catherine O'Hara) is just like any other aristocratic mother who wants to see their daughter get married to the perfect aristocratic man and have aristocratic kids together and be aristocrats forever.

Rich or not, it seems Penelope cannot seem to snag a man who is willing to stay with her (Honey, we all have that problem). However, the cause of that problem is extremely different for most women.

Penelope's positively petrifying pig nose scares away any suitor who sees her.

You see, one of her aristocratic Wilhern ancestors could not keep his pig in its blanket and made a servant girl, pregnant. When he told of his plans to marry the servant girl, his parents scoffed at him and told him that he cannot do that for she did not come from the same class.

Ancestor Wilhern listened to his parents and married a more suitable girl. The servant girl, in turn, killed herself.

The servant's mother, a witch, decided to put a curse on the Wilhern clan and vowed that the first daughter to be born in their family will live with the nose of a pig and stay that way until a person with a rich background comes to accept her for how she is.

Men: Wear condoms, just in case some chick's mom happens to be a vengeful witch

The Wilhern family was lucky for a few generations because every pregnancy resulted in a boy, until poor Penelope came along.

Penelope has always longed to interact with the rest of society, but her mother refuses and has kept her daughter in the house for most of Penelope's life.

Like any forced shut-in, Penelope sheer determination eventually finds a way to open society's doors and experience it on her own. Want to know how? Go watch the movie.

This movie is not well-known as it did not get enough publicity and advertisements. It SHOULD'VE though.

'Penelope' is so cute and funny. Catherine O'Hara is HILARIOUS and so is Simon Woods, who plays selfish, spoiled Edward Vanderman, another aristocrat.

Everyone did great and the casting was perfect. The story is a mix between 'The Ugly Duckling' and 'Beauty and the Beast' but the film can still be called its own story.

One of my favorites already. This is not a movie to watch only when pigs fly. Watch it now.

4.5/5

Rent worthy? I loved it a lot and I hope there is some consideration on renting this. It is available on Netflix and Blockbuster probably carries it.

DVD/Blu-ray worthy? I have it and if you liked it as much as I did, you will probably buy it too.

Keep on watchin'

The Little Critic