Critic Reviews
48
Metascore
Mixed or Average
positive
14(48%)
mixed
9(31%)
negative
6(21%)
Showing 29 Critic Reviews
80
An extraordinarily charming movie.
75
There are some flat moments, to be sure, and Palansky's direction can be a bit unsteady and awkward, but he doesn't wallow in the eccentricities or the modestly self-empowering moral. This fairy tale feels pleasantly down-to-earth.
75
A sweet, unassuming surprise.
75
This half-baked fairy tale always seems to be on the verge of becoming charming but despite a good cast it never quite succeeds.
75
Aimed at tweenage girls and mushy romantics of all age and stripe, Penelope has a quick gait and a nice comic tone.
70
The result is an entertaining comedy for young girls and older girls who still like a good romantic fable.
70
Anyone willing to tolerate the tortured premise of the story will be paid off handsomely by several winning performances and a moral that makes most of the absurdity worthwhile.
70
More tart than sweet, this contemporary fairy tale provides a worthy vehicle for the fearless Christina Ricci.
67
Reese Witherspoon, whose production company made Penelope, contributes an inflated cameo that feels forced.
63
It's not the best of modern fairy tales but it's sincere and Christina Ricci's earnest and vulnerable performance touches the heart. Penelope is flawed but not irredeemably so.
