Penelope

Penelope. (2006). Summit Entertainment.
ASIN B0011N1WE8
89 min
Format: DVD
Genre: Fantasy
Classification: Fiction
Age level: Rated PG

Reader's annotation
Penelope has spent her whole life trying to outwit a family curse that caused her to be born with the nose of a pig. Her family tries to keep her existence a secret, but when her photo is secretly taken and published, her identity is revealed and her whole life is blown wide open as she goes out into the world to make a life for herself.

Summary
Penelope is a fun movie for all ages but may be most appropriate for teens, with its theme of self-acceptance. Twenty-five-year-old Penelope was born to a wealthy family with a curse on the next daughter to be born. The curse leaves her a perfectly lovely girl, with the nose of a pig. Her parents fake her death and try to keep her existence a secret until a cure can be found. Surgery is out as a major artery runs through this nose. Penelope’s loving but neurotic mother thinks the cure can be found by getting Penelope married off to a young man from a good family. Prospects line up to meet the girl through a one-way glass but even the most serious contenders run off in horror when they meet Penelope face-to-face. Penelope develops real feelings for a sincere loser played by James McAvoy, who may have a secret agenda. Along the way, Penelope’s existence become public, she turns into a famous tabloid star and begins to live on her own, out in the world and discovers the cure for the curse may be within her own mind. The movie has gorgeous art direction; the sets, clothing and scenery create a beautiful, stylized fairy-tale world for this engaging fable with a good message.

Notes
Penolope is a film with a great message about self-acceptance that is put forth in an entertaining way. It will have special resonance with teenage girls.