I could no sooner choose a favorite star in the heavens

The Plot

Well, we have an elderly woman being interviewed by the Grimm brothers about the legend of Cinderella. She explains that Cinderella was indeed a real living person, but she is the keeper of this fascinating tale.
This Cinderella story is about a young girl by the name of Danielle De Barbarac (Drew Barrymore). She lost her mother when just an infant, and lived with her wonderful father and the many servants for all of her young life.
It is not exactly clear how, but it's assumed that Danielle's father, Auguste may have fell in love with one Baroness Rodmilla De Ghent, portrayed by Anjelica Houston. On presentation of this Baroness to his only daughter, Auguste dies of an apparent heart attack. So, now we have the Baroness moving into this house with her two young daughters, thus Danielle, has a stepmother, and two step sisters instantly. Since time lapsed to years later, we don't know if they were instantly evil as well, but they sure are now. Well, one stepsister is evil, one is more sympathetic and understanding as she gets the abuse if and when Danielle is not around.
The Baroness is having a tough time making ends meet, as she should, it is King Henry as lord of the land, and the country is nearing its poorest times. What she does do to get by, is sell Danielle's father's valuable household items, and eventually one of the servants.
When Danielle hears of this, she is determined to get him back. She gets her hands on some gold coins, by none other than Prince Henry (Dougray Scott). The Prince pays Danielle some gold coins for her discretion of embarrassing happenings that went on, in her backyard and for the use of one of her horses.
When she receives the money and hears of one of her servants being sold to the Americas, she decides she will go and pay the debt and he will be free again. She must not show up at the castle as a commoner, so she dons her late mother's finer clothes.
She meets the Prince again, and although he doesn't recognize her from the same morning in her backyard, he is taken with her beauty and her mind instantly.
He is smitten, and searches for her as his own time is running short. He has been promised to the Princess of Spain by his father the King as a sort of truce between the two countries. Prince Henry is against it, he feels he can marry this Nicole (the pseudonym that Danielle took to present herself in the castle), and finds her, and each and every time, falls more and more in love, as does she as well.
Everything is perfect, except for the little lie of her name and station in society. Along the way, Danielle meets Leonardo da Vinci and her best friend turns out to be artist Gustave.


My Thoughts

This film does live up to its title because it is indeed a Cinderella story.
This movie is such a perfect romantic drama, because the good guys are victorious. Her wildest fantasy could not have imagined that she would catch the eye of the Prince of France. She wasn't trying to catch the eye of any man, what made her happy is reading her one book over and over. That's where fate steps in, and pushes together these two people, from two different worlds, one a commoner and one royalty, and fate knows that they are the perfect match. As their inevitable love blossomed and grew, of course everyone tries to end this secret relationship as they find out about it. But what is meant to be, is meant to be and you cannot fight fate.
Even Anjelica Houston's character, Baroness, seals her own fate as her favoritism and wicked ways are bound to catch up with her. I mean, we all heard it, what goes around, comes around.
I dismiss and loathe any dimwit who comes across this film and states that the acting is sub par, and that's to be expected. I'm sorry but, Drew Barrymore and cast give amazing performances in this film. The characters are not only believable but also memorable and loveable.
It's cool that this Cinderella story incorporates people from history into this fairytale, it gives it more life and believability.
Attractive sets and costumes litter this film.

Although this movie is rated PG-13, I am not sure that it is not acceptable for the whole family. I really cannot find anything objectionable for the young ones to view.

The DVD is a bit disappointing as far as extras go. I purchased this DVD when it first came out, and that's when Sony DVDs were way overpriced and I think that I paid over $25 for the disc. Now, you can probably get it for under $10.

Ever After is my favorite Drew Barrymore film.
I am a huge fan of Drew, but actually not that big on her movies. Why do I love her? Oh that's right I'm a man. Well, maybe that's not what it's all about, but she does have some sort of allure about her.
But yes, it's true, besides E.T., the amazing Riding In Cars With Boys, and her movies with Adam Sandler, no others are really worth mentioning, as the rest, in my opinion, are mediocre or just terrible.
Yet I am a big fan of Drew, maybe because in spite of the fact of her inconsistency for making quality pictures, she is still a superstar.