by Shane Conto
Have you ever wanted a fairy godparent to grant all of your wishes? Having grown up in the 90’s into the early 2000’s, I imagined having one right out of The Fairly Oddparents to be honest. Disney certainly popularized fairy godparents in their classic animated films. Now they are bringing them to a new generation on Disney+. Godmothered is the latest live action original film on the streaming service. Even though it draws from classic ideas, at least this one is an original story and not just another remake. Even better…it brings a new twist onto the traditional role of a fairy godmother. Should you and your family be checking out Godmothered this holiday season?
Who would be the ideal person to bring a story of a hopeful fairy godmother who needs to help a grown woman find her happily ever after in life?
The director of Bridget Jones’ Diary of course! Sharon Maguire has shown talent in her presentation of romantic comedies and Godmothered is a story that really needs some of that magic. Speaking of magic…this film is filled with magic and also means there are plenty of effects. The budget of the film definitely isn’t close to the same as other live action Disney films so some of the flying and other effects look a bit elastic. One of the trickier aspects of the film is that it runs a hefty 113 minutes. The plot of the film is not particularly complex nor does it have too many subplots so the film feels like it is just drawn out. What does make the ride a bit easier to take in is the amount of energy that Maguire brings to the film.
But what does the screenplay bring to the table?
The screenplay is pulled together by two women including the writer of Disney +’s Lady and the Tramp and the writer of The Other Woman. This doesn’t necessarily spark a lot of excitement from a writing perspective, but they have plenty of elements to work with. You have a whole world of fairy godmothers that is set up and it’s pretty magical…but I think that goes without saying. They show a rundown version of a once vibrant world through some standard exposition, but it is a little livelier with the charm of June Squibb. You have Eleanor, the last hope of the Motherland, who is a young fairy who wants nothing more than to be a fairy godmother. She finds the last letter that came in and seeks out this little girl. Silly hijinx ensues as she makes her way to Boston to find her. The humor in the film is a bit of a mix of clever lampoons of classic fairy tales and physical humor. The film is funny enough but definitely not up there with the most classic of Disney films. What follows is mostly your pretty standard rom-com with Isla Fisher and her coworker (who just seems all too perfect) and a fish out of water story for Eleanor. Throw in some holiday cheer and some family drama (because we are watching a Disney film so one parent must be dead, right?), and you have Godmothered!
But the big question is…can the cast deliver the needed magic to make it all come together?
Jillian Bell is a talented actress and comedian with a star making performance in Brittany Runs a Marathon under her belt. She delivers some serious charm and charisma to the leading role of Eleanor. Her vibrant energy helps make each scene she is in just a bit more enjoyable. Isla Fisher is fine in the film but is honestly given a pretty bland and standard overworked mom character. To be honest, most of the characters are pretty cliched and don’t have much depth to them. The film really relies on charm to make it work and luckily you have veteran performances like June Squibb to deliver some as one of the fairy godmothers.
When all is said and done, does Godmothered deliver a worthwhile experience?
The film is…fine. I think the film will be a crowd pleaser for families and the younger members of the audience. This one definitely won’t be a convert for those who are not big Disney fans. This one will also not be having people flocking to sign-up for a Disney + account. But you will have a nice time watching it, especially if it is with your family this holiday season.
Grade: C+