Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Feb 25, 2026 4.5/5

Anne Hathaway’s performance carries both comedic timing and warmth, while the supporting cast and colorful design add layers of fun and personality.

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Steve Warren Southern Voice (Atlanta) May 7, 2023 3.5/4

The result isn’t consistently enchanting, but it is quite amusing in spite of its unevenness.

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Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Oct 13, 2022 3/5

…For kids bored with repeated viewings of Frozen and Tangled, Ella Enchanted is a worthy next step; chunky and easy to watch, it’s got some hidden depths well worth exploring…

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 24, 2010 4/5

Endearing, enduring, with just a few bits of crude humor

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com May 4, 2009 C+

Anne Hathaway is the cheery spark in this glitzy girl's fantasy story from screenwriters Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith ("Legally Blonde").

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Peter T. Chattaway Christianity Today Sep 22, 2006 2/4

The Narrator begins and ends the story talking about how fairy tales transport us to another place, but the sad fact is that Ella lets us stay right where we are.

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Matthew Turner ViewLondon Dec 18, 2004 3/5

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Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films Sep 16, 2004 B

Avoids a misstep common among girl-empowerment flicks, which often emasculate the male lead to make the heroine truly heroic… manages to make both leads appealing.

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Harry Haun Film Journal International Aug 8, 2004

The idea of mixing the modern with the medieval is a dubious Mulligan's stew -- and annoys quickly.

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Jorge Avila Andrade Moviola Jul 20, 2004 3/4

'El pblico seguramente quedar encantado por la inocencia, el humor y la magia de una pelcula a la que seguramente el tiempo dar el lugar que merece.'

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Pablo Villaça Cinema em Cena Jun 17, 2004 3/5

Mesmo pecando por ser convencional demais, este um filme charmoso e bem-intencionado - e certamente far grande sucesso entre as crianas.

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David Rooney Variety Apr 27, 2004

A thoroughly charming performer with a bracing freshness about her that carries the film, [Hathaway] establishes credible chemistry with Brit thesp Dancy.

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Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope Apr 27, 2004 B

A sweet little anachronistic musical fairy tale along the lines of 'Shrek.'

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Anita Schmaltz Metro Times (Detroit, MI) Apr 23, 2004 1/5

Someone should tell O'Haver and the gaggle of writers it took to write this unenchanted mess that updated doesn't have to mean washed-up and dumbed-down.

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Mark Palermo The Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Apr 22, 2004

It looks tiring for a movie to flaunt its sense of irony as eagerly as Ella Enchanted while remaining so naive.

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Audrey Rock-Richardson Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) Apr 22, 2004 C+

Looks an awful lot like "Shrek," down to the funky closing dance sequence.

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Ty Burr Boston Globe Apr 20, 2004 1.5/4

An overcalculated fusion of Shrek and The Princess Bride with all the smarts replaced by smartass.

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Linda Cook Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Apr 19, 2004 3/4

It's sweet, it's quirky, and the whole family can fall under its spell.

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