Penelope

Austin Chronicle by

It’s as if Caveny had so many ideas that she simply couldn’t bear to leave any of them crumpled up on her office floor.

Variety by David Rooney

The whimsical ugly-duckling fable becomes more uneven as it proceeds, straining too hard to manufacture its quirky charms.

ReelViews by James Berardinelli

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.

The Hollywood Reporter by Kirk Honeycutt

The result is an entertaining comedy for young girls and older girls who still like a good romantic fable.

Charlotte Observer by Lawrence 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.

Chicago Tribune by Michael Phillips

I wish it were truly special instead of an interesting near-miss.

Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman

Is there anything more dull than an ineptly cynical fairy tale?

Rolling Stone by Peter Travers

Penelope is dead on arrival.