Trailer - Penelope 2006

About the movie Penelope 2008
The whimsical romantic fantasy Penelope has recently concluded its theatrical run, offering a charming and unique fairytale for modern audiences. Directed by Mark Palansky and written by Leslie Caveny, the film stars Christina Ricci as a young woman born with a pig's snout who must find true love to break a family curse. James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, and Reese Witherspoon (also a producer) co-star. Produced by Stone Village Pictures and Section Eight, this fantasy romance blends classic fairytale elements with a contemporary sensibility. At the box office, Penelope had a limited release but performed respectably for an independent film, building a positive word-of-mouth following. Critical reception was generally mixed to positive. Professional film reviewers praised its quirky charm, strong performances from Ricci and McAvoy, and its uplifting message about self-acceptance. IMDb user reviews were largely positive, with many viewers appreciating its originality, heartwarming story, and delightful cast. Don't miss the Penelope movie trailer.

Cast: Christina Ricci, Reese Witherspoon,
James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara
Director: Mark Palansky
Release Date: February 29th, 2008

Sinopsis: A modern day romantic tale about a young girl's inspiring journey, a mysterious family secret and the power of love. With all odds against her, in order for Penelope to break the family curse, she must find true love with "one of her own kind." The warm and funny adventure leads her to realize the most important life lesson, "I like myself the way I am." Penelope Wilhern, born to wealthy socialites, is afflicted by the Wilhern spell that can only be broken when she finds love. Hidden away in her family's estate, the lonely girl meets a string of suitors in her parent's futile attempt to break the curse. Each eligible bachelor is enamored with Penelope and her sizable dowry... until her curse is revealed. Lemon, a mischievous and eager tabloid reporter wants a photograph of the mysterious Penelope and hires Max to pose as a prospective suitor to get the shot. The handsome down-on-his luck gambler finds he falling for Penelope, but not wanting to disappoint her or to expose his surreptitious ways, he decides to disappear. Fed up by his latest betrayal and determined to live life on her own terms, Penelope breaks free from her family and ventures into the world alone. She finds adventure and Annie, her first friend and becomes the person she was meant to be.

Trailer - Penelope



Plot
Years before the events of the film, servant woman Clara falls in love with wealthy blue blood Ralph Wilhern and becomes pregnant with his child. However, at the urging of his disapproving parents, Ralph marries another woman, leading a heartbroken Clara to die by suicide by jumping off a cliff. Her enraged mother, the town witch, places a curse on the Wilhern bloodline; the next Wilhern daughter will be born with the face of a pig, only to become human when "one of her own kind" learns to love her. However, the Wilherns only give birth to sons for five generations until the birth of Franklin and Jessica Wilhern's child, Penelope.

Ashamed of her daughter's face and afraid of a media scandal, Jessica claims that Penelope died as an infant and hides her away in their mansion. After Penelope's eighteenth birthday, Jessica hires a matchmaker, Wanda, and begins seeking out suitors, believing the love of another blue blood is the only way to lift the curse.

Seven years later, all of Penelope's suitors have fled in terror upon seeing her face, including Edward Humphrey Vanderman III. Edward conspires with tabloid reporter Lemon to photograph Penelope to prove her existence and hires young blue blood Max Campion to pose as a new suitor, planting a camera in his jacket. After having conversations through a one-way mirror, Max and Penelope develop genuine feelings for each other. When Max sees her face, he is shocked — but not frightened — and accidentally triggers the camera. Regretful of his attempts to exploit Penelope, Max calls off his agreement with Lemon and Edward and destroys the camera. Penelope begs him to marry her, promising it will lift the curse, but Max declines.

Tired of the matchmaking and inspired by Max's conversations about the outside world, Penelope escapes and journeys out into the city. She covers her face with a scarf in public to keep anonymous, secretly selling photos of herself to Lemon to earn money. At a local bar she frequents, she befriends delivery girl Annie, who takes her on trips around the city. After several weeks, Penelope is spotted by her parents, but rushes back to the bar before they can confront her, where she faints. Annie removes the scarf to help her breathe and exposes her as the supposedly dead Penelope Wilhern to the other bar patrons. Much to Penelope's surprise, the public is fascinated and enamored with her face, and she becomes an overnight celebrity.

Meanwhile, Edward’s father, having seen the public's fondness for Penelope and embarrassed by his son's vocal cruelty toward her, coerces Edward into proposing to her. Lemon discovers that the real Max Campion is imprisoned for armed robbery; the man he had been working with is actually a gambler named Johnny Martin, whom Lemon had mistaken for Max. Lemon shares this with Jessica and Wanda on Penelope's wedding day, but Jessica decides to not relay it to Penelope. At her wedding, Penelope realizes that she does not want to marry simply to break the curse. She flees from the altar, locks herself in her room, and declares that she likes herself the way she is. As Penelope has finally been loved by "one of her own kind" — herself — the curse is lifted, and her pig snout and ears disappear.

Some time later, Penelope becomes an elementary school horticulture teacher, and the public's interest in her has begun to wane. She eventually learns the truth about Johnny's identity from Wanda and visits his apartment during a Halloween party while wearing a pig mask. Johnny kisses Penelope and apologizes for not having the power to break the curse, but she takes off her mask and reveals that she held the power all along.

The Wilhern's butler Jake, revealed to be the witch who cast the original curse, casts one final spell to render Jessica mute for an indeterminate amount of time before quitting his position. While Johnny and Penelope are at a park with her students, Lemon discreetly approaches and tries to take a photo of them to prove that the curse has been lifted. Upon seeing how happy the couple is, he ultimately decides against it and leaves.

Comedy / Fantasy

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