Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Cinderella’s’ Once Upon A Time—Is Now!

The 1950’s CINDERELLA is one of Walt Disney’s most beloved animated fairytales ever…

But that was then and this is now.

And just like with ALICE IN WONDERLAND and MALEFICENT, Disney goes back to the well to bring the story’s original message of “if you keep on believing, the dream will come true” to today’s audiences.

In this new LIFE-action adaptation Disney adds, “have courage and be kind” to the fable.

Bottom line, the studios newest excursion into the vaulted world of fairytales plays delightfully old-fashioned yet refreshingly updated to current short attention span standards.

It also give us much more of a backstory by delving deeper into the events that produced the classic love story.

That age-old story of Cinderella again follows the fortunes of young Ella whose father re-marries following the death of her mother. But when her father unexpectedly passes away just a short time later, Ella finding herself at the mercy of her jealous and cruel NEW family led by wicked step mom Cate Blanchett.

Ella’s life is bottoming out.

So far, so BAD.

Enter fairy godmother Helena Bonham Carter and the transformation of Ella into Cinderella and the movie REALLY takes off with all the magic we’ve become to expect from the Mouse House.

We’re talking enchanting visuals, Prince Charming (Richard Madden), the midnight transformation and, of course, the search for his future princess via her lost glass slipper.

Corny? Maybe to some. But our screening audience ate it up.

So if the shoe fits, why not a new Cinderella?

Lily James from TV’s Downton Abbey series certainly does her justice in director Kenneth Branagh’s well-directed and staged new live-action approach to the classic.

It’s definitely one for the ENTIRE family scoring a B+

Frozen Fever

Take note!

Every engagement of CINDERELLA will be accompanied by a special new short subject entitled FROZEN FEVER.

This clever seven minute long animated musical comedy centers around a surprise birthday party for Princess Anna thrown by older sister Queen Elsa.

Disney’s CINDERELLA plus FROZEN FEVER opens in preview performances this evening at 7:00 p.m. then everywhere beginning tomorrow.

(Reviewed at B&B’s Extreme Screen Theatre at Union Station)

JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on 98.1 FM, KMBZ and anytime on Facebook.