A fairytale romance often follows a similar formula, where the female protagonist is swept away from hardship by her prince or true love, with the idea that it’s up to “Prince Charming” to change the reality of their life being perpetuated from one story to the next. But the 2006 fantasy romance, Penelope, deserves a second chance for subverting the rulebook and giving fairytale tropes a much-needed modern edge.
Starring Christina Ricciand James McAvoy, Penelope takes the concept of a fairytale curse and gives it a worthwhile spin that rivals beloved Disney movies likeBeauty & the Beastand Sleeping Beauty. Worthy of a modern reappraisal, Penelope is a fairytale that gives the female lead a chance to forge her own path, doing away with the clichés of the “handsome prince” and dated traditional values.
What is ‘Penelope’ About?
In this modern fairytale, Penelope Wilhern (Ricci) is a young woman born into a wealthy family and forced to live with a pig-like nose and ears due to a family curse. Since birth, her parents have insisted on keeping her away from the public to avoid scrutiny and for her supposed safety—a questionable parental tactic to say the least. Indeed, as she is told, the only way to break the curse is for someone of blue blood to fall in love with her and accept her for who she is.
Having been sheltered her whole life, Penelope grows up isolated and lonely, and unable to find a suitor who accepts her and her abnormal features. Confined to her bedroom, where she meets potential suitors through a one-way mirror, one day Max (McAvoy) walks in, and Penelope begins to wonder if he may be the one to break the curse and finally give her a chance at a normal life. Even without seeing Penelope, he begins to develop feelings, but, like all good fairytales, some things are too good to be true as Max hides his own secrets, forcing her to take her own life in her hands.
‘Penelope’ Turns the Damsel-in-Distress Trope Into an Empowering Tale
With a 53% Rotten Tomatoes score, the rating doesn’t fully reflect the film’s unique charm, thoughtful message, or long-lasting appeal. Critics at the time may have expected a more conventional romantic comedy or fantasy tale, but Penelope deliberately breaks the mold with its offbeat tone, storybook aesthetic, and emotional depth. While the story can be paralleled with Beauty & the Beast, with both Penelope and the Beast being forced to wait for a savior to unbind them from their curse, the film gives agency to the protagonist, allowing her to seize change for herself.
It might seem as though Max is the typical male savior from higher society, yet McAvoy’s character isn’t the knight in shining armor, rather, he subverts the “prince charming” archetype by being a down-on-his-luck gambler posing as an aristocrat for financial gain. He’s normal, grounded, flawed, and represents a more authentic form of connection that doesn’t hinge on social class or perfection, encouraging Penelope that she doesn’t need to be “fixed” and that true strength comes with self-acceptance. He’s not Penelope’s solution, he’s her spark for rebellion.
This isn’t the only way that the film defies typical fairytale expectations either, just consider how the curse itself is broken. Don’t look for a grand kiss or a heroic rescue—that moment doesn’t exist here—instead, everything hinges on Penelope’s own choice to embrace who she truly is. In one of the film’s most memorable turns, when faced with an unwanted marriage, she screams, “I like myself the way I am!”—a moment that cements her self-acceptance, realizing the blue-blood was her all along. Ultimately, Penelope comes to terms with the fact that her fears over her image were not truly her own, but the product of her mother’s anxieties. Max isn’t the knight in shining armor — Penelope is. He serves as a voice of reason and a supportive presence, falling in love with her for who she really is, while she drives her own story and growth.
The Cast of ‘Penelope’ Elevates the Movie Beyond a B-Grade Spectacle
While Penelope may not have panned out well with critics, its stellar cast gives the film an emotional grit and nuance that makes it a favorite among its loyal fanbase. Ricci balances her character’s wanderlust and enthusiasm for adventure, while also portraying Penelope’s self-doubt and vulnerability that was built into her from a young age, creating a realistic character who the audience can effortlessly root for. With quiet defiance and forthright passion, Penelope is a stirring protagonist, as well as an inspirational figure for young audience members.
McAvoy becomes a perfect pairing for Ricci as the unassuming romantic lead that audience members end up swooning for. Not because he’s perfect, but because the character is portrayed as genuine and realistically flawed. He doesn’t overshadow Penelope; instead, he complements her journey, offering her some insight into the complicated reality of the real world. Matching Penelope’s outlook on life, McAvoy gives Max the necessary grounded charm, unaffected by the pressure of society’s “proper” standards.
Elsewhere, the supporting cast is littered with big names who elevate the film’s legitimacy, including Reese Witherspoon who brings warmth, humor, and quirkiness to the role of Annie, one of Penelope’s first real friends. Peter Dinklage also adds to the overall hijinks as the tabloid reporter hellbent on revealing her true face. His performance combines sharp wit with a mischievous energy, working his comedy chops just like he did with aplomb in 2003’s Elf and 2007’s Death at a Funeral.
Well worth seeking out, Penelope is one of those movie gems that went unnoticed and got stuffed in the $1 DVD bin at the Dollar Tree. With notes of the rebellious animated movie Shrek, which too subverted fantasy cliché, Penelope is a fun and energetic romance flick that suggests that not all fairytale leads need to be saved by someone else; it sometimes takes some risk and a look in the mirror.
