It's not the best of modern fairy tales but it's sincere and Christina Ricci's earnest and vulnerable performance touches the heart. Penelope is flawed but not irredeemably so.
I wish it were truly special instead of an interesting near-miss.
60
Village Voice
Village Voice
Ricci is appealingly human, and some acknowledgement of the importance of female friendship, in addition to romance, is faintly touching.
50
VarietyDavid Rooney
VarietyDavid Rooney
The whimsical ugly-duckling fable becomes more uneven as it proceeds, straining too hard to manufacture its quirky charms.
50
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
There are usually good reasons why a movie gets shelved for more than a year, however well-acted it may be and however well-meaning its message. Many are on view in Penelope.