Pig-faced girl, full of heart

Stone Village Pictures newest movie "Penelope" tells the heart warming tale of a girl who is cursed with a defective face but still manages to find true love in a superficial world. While this film has "corny" clichés , it is a film that warms the heart, entertains viewers, as well expresses the message for liking oneself.

"Penelope" tells the tragic tale of young blue blood, Penelope Wilhern, played by Christina Ricci (Sleepy Hollow, and The Adams Family) who is born with a pig's face. Penelope's face is the result of a curse placed on her family generations ago by the town witch, after her Great- Great- Great- Great Grandfather loved but refused to marry a servant whom worked for his family. The witch's curse foretold that the next first born girl of the Wilhern family was to be born with a pig's face that would not disappear until someone from her own family accepts her for who she is. Obviously, the cursed girl is-Ricci's character.

After Penelope was born, her mother Jessica Wilhern played by Catherine O'Hara (Home Alone 1 &2) was forced to lock her daughter in their elaborate home tucked away from the world as well as Lemon, the unstoppable tabloid journalist determined to get a photograph of this girl. Upon her 18 birthday, Penelope's mother hired Wanda, a matchmaker for the rich and privileged, to find a young blue blood to marry Penelope in hopes of breaking her curse. However, despite this girl's wonderful personality and charm, men were scared by her face. Until Penelope meets Max, a down and out of luck blue blood played by James McAvoy (Atonement & The Chronicles of Narnia). While Max is taken with Penelope's personality right away he is still startled by her face which causes her to leave the shelter of her home and explore the real world. In the city, Penelope befriends wild child Annie played by Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line & Sweet Home Alabama) who helps Penelope on her quest of self discovery. While out in the city Penelope makes her presence known to the world and finds that it is not as unwelcoming as her mother had feared, and finds herself embraced- and welcomed by the public. Though Penelope finds herself accepted by the world, she finds herself constantly confronted with her feelings toward Max over the other Blue bloods.

Directed by Mark Palansky, "Penelope" is a 102 minute story about a young girl search for social acceptance as well as true love in the world of the rich and privileged. This romantic comedy encourages everybody to accept themselves for who they are and to not hide from the world.

"Penelope" is a comedy which can be enjoyed by romantics at heart. The chemistry between Ricci and McAvoy soar. Whereas Witherspoon's added charm sprinkles a heart warming, good feel for all.