Film Review – Charming (2018)

With an all-star voice cast including Demi Lovato, Avril Lavigne, Sia and Ashley Tisdale, plus a host of catchy songs from the likes of Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Charming is a magical musical comedy about leaps of faith, true love, and realising that happily ever after isn’t as impossible as one might think.

Starring: Demi Lovato, Wilmer Valderrama, Avril Lavigne, Ashley Tisdale, Sia, G.E.M and John Cleese. Charming is written and directed by Ross Venokur and produced by Academy Award-winning producer John Williams (Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After).

Synopsis

Journey to a land far, far away this summer with Charming, the animated fantasy adventure filled with music and magic that the whole family will adore.

Cursed with irresistible charm that bewitches the heart of every maiden in the Kingdom, Prince Philippe Charming (Wilmer Valderrama) is on a quest for true love. Snow White (Avril Lavigne), Cinderella (Ashley Tisdale) and Sleeping Beauty (G.E.M.) have already fallen for the dashing Prince but soon he must set off on a great adventure in the company of a roguish stranger called Lenny who, in true fairy-tale style, is actually Lenore (Demi Lovato), the only woman in the land immune to his curse

Review – Contains Spoilers

This is very much a child’s film, or a young family film, in that it will keep your child’s attention but maybe not so much yours, and you may find yourself wondering what to have for tea. That being said, the soundtrack will soon snap you back into the film, as I for one, really enjoyed it. It’s upbeat and modern. A nice surprise.

Whilst us adults can sit there and watch how Charming, who is cursed and has every woman in town falling at his feet, sets out to find out which of his true loves he’s to marry – Cinderella, Snow White or Sleeping Beauty – we’ll get to those three in a moment. We know, as adults, he’s going to fall for the one female who is immune to his curse!

But the children won’t, and this is why it’s a lovely magical film for them, not so much for us.

The witch who placed this curse on the Prince is a mash-up between the Evil Queen, as she locks away Lenore’s heart and Maleficent for she places the curse on the prince when he is a baby, and shows up every now and then to thwart the Prince’s travels.

The Prince himself is nothing like many of the characters you read in fairy-tale books, and is a bit arrogant to start with! The turmoil of carrying such a curse, I guess!

I’m also disappointed with why the three princesses are portrayed as, well, spoilt brats! I don’t believe for one moment Cinderella would ever behave in such a beastly manner (she’s clearly my favourite!). But they are, and I wonder if this is to show Lenore in a more grounded, well-balanced light?

I think the executioner was my favourite character, along with the bird. That being said, it is an easy watch, one the children will enjoy, and a soundtrack that I actually wouldn’t mind buying. This film is a good allrounder, but as mentioned above, this is for the children and young families more so than adults.


Animation, Family, Adventure | USA, 2018 | U | 2nd August 2019 (UK) | Blue Finch Films | Dir.Ross Venokour | Demi Lovato, Wilmer Valderrama, Avril Lavigne, Ashley Tisdale, Sia, G.E.M , John Cleese.


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