I thought this movie was a funny and a romantic chick flick. Hilary Duff is one of my favorite actresses and she plays a perfect Sam in this movie. This movie is pretty predictable but still fun to watch. If your bored one day go to the video store and check this movie out. It is very interesting to watch from beginning to end. Chad Micheal Murray is a great Austin for this movie and has what it takes.I never get sick of watching this movie.Every character in this movie was the right pick.I'm so glad Hilary played Sam instead of somebody else.If you are not interested in this movie, at least give it a chance! From a scale 1-10 i give this movie a 8. Two thumbs up!
A Cinderella Story
2004
Action / Comedy / Family / Romance
A Cinderella Story
2004
Action / Comedy / Family / Romance
Plot summary
Samantha Montgomery (Hilary Duff) or "Sam", has a rough childhood with her father dying in an earthquake and a new stepmother with two awful daughters. But on the bright side, Sam has an awesome best friend named Carter (Dan Byrd) and an e-mail relationship with a guy named Nomad. One day, Sam gets an e-mail from her Nomad saying that he wants to meet her in the middle of the dance floor at their high school Halloween dance. She accepts the invitation and glides into the room wearing the best outfit ever. Her Nomad takes her outside where they share a romantic dance together and Sam realizes that her e-mail friend is the most popular guy in school, Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray). She runs back to her stepmother's diner before she knows she went to the dance and drops her phone on the way. Austin finds it and starts a search for his Cinderella.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Perfect romantic comedy
Not as bad as I thought it would be
I did fear that I would hate A Cinderella Story. I honestly it would be predictable and contrived, problems I have had with some of the Mary Kate and Ashley movies. Actually, while by no means perfect, but as an update of the fairytale this exceeded my expectations. I have heard and read complaints that the film is very unoriginal. I don't think it is. While I like films to be original, I don't like it being too original. The film does follow the skeletal premise of the timeless fairytale, that I grew up reading, as well as loving the Disney film and Ever After with Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Huston.
A Cinderella Story does have its flaws. There are a lot of over-familiar elements in the script, and the plot falls into the oft-danger of being predictable. There are one or two pacing problems and the odd clichéd character, and while there are some mildly funny moments with the stepsisters especially(ie. the scene in the swimming pool) there is nothing uproariously funny. I liked the idea of the two lead characters being internet pals, somewhat reminded me of You've Got Mail.
On the plus side, there are some things I really did like about this film. While they had some in general superficial material to work with, the entire acting ensemble did more than adequately. Hilary Duff does a good job in the lead as Sam, she is definitely not the best actress ever, far from it, but she is better than Miley Cyrus. Plus I thought she looks lovely here. While he looks like 5 years older, Chad Michael Murray is an appealing love interest. And Jennifer Coolidge makes the most out of the role of the wicked stepmother here. The camera work is decent, and the sets are colourful. And I have to mention Sam's dress, it was gorgeous! The film's finish is satisfying too, and the soundtrack is cool.
Overall, one may dismiss this film as a silly piece of predictable fluff. While it is definitely not perfect, it is watchable, and good undemanding fun for teenagers. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Disney loves Cinderella
Ever since Walt Disney put out that full length animated version of Cinderella back in the middle of the last century they can't seem to get away from the story. It seems like every young girl pop star associated with the Magic Kingdom gets a crack at some kind of Cinderella type role. In A Cinderella Story it was Hillary Duff's turn.
In this instance though Cinderella's universal tale was mixed with a bit Duff's own Lizzie McGuire character and series and a great deal was taken from The Shop Around The Corner and it's musical remake In The Good Old Summertime. Duff has an e-mail relationship with her prince charming Chad Michael Murray under pseudonyms.
In this version we see a bit of dad played by Whip Hubley in the story. Hillary loses her father in an earthquake and he apparently died in testate and self absorbed stepmother Jennifer Coolidge and her two daughters from her first marriage treat Duff like the matchstick girl.
But she's got friends, her diner employers like Viola Davis, Paul Rodriguez and Mary Pat Gleason. She also has a boy confidante like she has Gordo in Lizzie McGuire in Dan Byrd. She gets by with a lot of help from her friends.
This is a nice version of Cinderella with generous helpings from other story sources. Hillary Duff is a most appealing Cinderella and the supporting cast does well in their roles.