Cinderella (2021)

An ambitious young woman (Camila Cabello) wants to be a dress designer but she lives in a society where women are expected to marry and become wives and mothers. When the country's King (Pierce Brosnan) and Queen (Minnie Driver) give a ball inviting all the eligible ladies of the kingdom in the hopes that their son (Nicholas Galitzine) will choose a wife, she attends with the stipulation from her "fab" godmother (Billy Porter) that she leave at midnight. Based on the classic fairy tale by Charles Perrault and directed by Kay Cannon (best known for writing the PITCH PERFECT films). This jukebox musical which incorporates hit songs made famous by Madonna, Janet Jackson, Queen, Salt-N-Pepa and Earth Wind & Fire among others has a decidedly feminist bent. Cabello's Cinderella wants a career, not a Prince Charming. Galitzine's Prince isn't interested becoming King and ruling the country but his Princess sister (Tallulah Greive) wants to rule the kingdom and has all kinds of politically progressive ideas. Hey, it's a fairy tale so all bets are off. The casting exemplifies diversity and the music consists of pop, rap and Latin sounds. Does it work? Actually, I quite enjoyed it even if it too often seems calculated to be politically correct. There's no magic and what's a fairy tale without magic? But it's colorful and some of the musical numbers are pretty good like Idina Menzel as the wicked stepmother singing Madonna's Material Girl or the princesses at the ball singing and dancing to En Vogue's Whatta Man. I don't know that I can honestly recommend it but you ought to know whether this is your cuppa tea. With James Corden and Beverley Knight.