A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song – Good Clean (Tween) Fun For the Family

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Coming to direct to DVD release from Warner Brothers Premiere on September 6th.

I’m a big fan of 1965 made for television Rogers & Hammerstein’s musical version of ‘Cinderella’ starring Lesley Ann Warren and Stuart Damon. When I was a little girl; on into my early teens, every time it was rerun, I would dance around the room and sing along with Cinderella as she waited for and met her Prince Charming. As  that long ago young girl, it was a magical feeling for me.

In 2008, Warner Brothers Premiere released ‘Another Cinderella Story: Dancing Ever After’ directed by Damon Santostefano and starring Selena Gomez and Drew Seeley. The film was a huge hit as a musical version of an old fairytale. A whole new generation of preteen and tween girls had a new Cinderella story to sing and dance along with.

Now along comes ‘A Cinderella Story- Once Upon a Song’  – also directed by Damon Santostefano – starring Lucy Hale (‘Pretty Little Liars’) in the title ‘Cinderella style’ role.

Cinderella Story 3, A

Over-worked, harried; terrified of being put back in foster care, 17-year-old Katie Gibbs (Lucy Hale) does her stepmother Gail van Ravensway (Missi Pyle) and step-siblings’ bidding without complaining. Vocally gifted, Katie feels particularly upset when forced to lay down singing tracks so that her untalented stepsister, Bev van Ravensway (Megan Park), can hopefully win a recording contract from Massive Records–whose company President, Harvey Morgan, is scouting for new spectacular superstar at a talent showcase for the Performing Arts Department at a prestigious private school.

Though she is not the ‘prince’ in this version – that role is filled by Freddie Stroma as Luke Morgan-  Lucy Hale is totally charming as Katie Gibbs. She also has a an amazing singing voice.

Cinderella Story 3, A

In fact, each actor in ‘Another Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song’ is excellent in their roles. Playing a wicked step-mother is tough task when you are trying to convey wickedness without going over the top or scary. Missi Pyle hits the perfect balance in this role. The only character I found to be under par was Luke Morgan as the one in the ‘princely’ role. Freddie Stroma is comes across slightly bland. Still he has enough of the cute factor to make up for that.

The DVD comes with some really cool special features that will appeal to the viewers as much as the feature movie itself will.  I think that many of the young viewers will especially enjoy the featurette, ‘So You Want To Dance’, in which ‘Cinderella’ and her best friend Angela (Jessalyn Wamlin) teach dance steps from hip-hop to bollywood styles. Not only is this a great featurette, it is also a wonderful exercise program.

‘Another Cinderella Story- Once Upon A Song’ is the kind of movie the whole family can sit down to watch, enjoy and of course watch again!

Check out the interview with Lucy Hale.

Reviewed by:

M  R Reed

Grade: B+