Godmothered (2020)
Directed by Sharon Maguire
A young and unskilled fairy godmother that ventures out on her own to prove her worth by tracking down a young girl whose request for help was ignored. What she discovers is that the girl has now become a grown woman in need of something very different than a "prince charming."
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5 films that influenced Godmothered
What critics say influenced Godmothered
But this movie is just as inspired by fish-out-of-water high-concept family comedies like Enchanted and Elf, both of which are a) not streaming on Disney+ and b) much, much, much funnier, smarter, and more heartwarming.
While it subtly reminds me of Enchanted , it has a flair all its own.
Now streaming on Disney+, the film recalls the studio’s once-upon-a-time hit, “Enchanted,” although here, the conceit loses much of its charm.
Since the film is set around the Christmas holiday, elements from Hallmark Channel holiday movies feel like inspiration, and it is hard to watch all of this and not envision Amy Adams’ fantastic performance in 2007’s Enchanted , a notable and beloved Disney film.
Capturing the fairytale quality that will remind many of Enchanted , the film takes us through familiar notes for its characters to overcome before landing on its lesson.
In the same vein as Elf or Enchanted , whimsical Eleanor barges into the dull, downtrodden life of Mackenzie, her daughters (Jillian Shea Spaeder, Willa Skye) and her helpful sister (Mary Elizabeth Ellis).
But this movie is just as inspired by fish-out-of-water high-concept family comedies like Enchanted and Elf, both of which are a) not streaming on Disney+ and b) much, much, much funnier, smarter, and more heartwarming.
Though well-intentioned, this take off of Elf can’t find its own way and is content with simply mirroring the premise and intent of that holiday classic.
In the same vein as Elf or Enchanted , whimsical Eleanor barges into the dull, downtrodden life of Mackenzie, her daughters (Jillian Shea Spaeder, Willa Skye) and her helpful sister (Mary Elizabeth Ellis).
A knockoff hybrid of "Elf" and "Enchanted" that doesn't even attempt to disguise its lack of originality, it stars Jillian Bell as Eleanor, a fairy-godmother-in-training who learns that her entire profession is in danger of elimination since no one actually believes in such things anymore.
I love Elf during the holidays, and This Christmas is a go-to every year.
It’s almost like Elf in a way.
The new Disney+ film Godmothered would fall into the “re-imagining” camp; it’s not officially a remake of Cinderella, the 1950 film that made the concept of the fairy godmother feel like an iconic Disney creation.
Moira teaches everything we know from films such as Cinderella .
That said, “Godmothered” finds itself in the same narrative traps of most Disney fodder: ranging from the obligatory workaholic parent who continually misses precious childhood memories to unamusing musical numbers (the cast does a riff on “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music” which now that Disney owns 20th Century Fox is perfect corporate synergy).
Plus, a lot of songs from “The Sound of Music,” because … why not?
So imagine if Mary Poppins and Buddy from Elf got together and watched Cinderella and The Sound of Music over some really strong eggnog and decided to write – oops, this is my floor!
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The problem here is that the film doesn't find a particularly fresh take for such an approach--as, to give one example, the wonderful and perennially underrated "Ella Enchanted" did once upon a time--and as a result, the whole thing feels too familiar for its own good.