GODMOTHERED – “Bippity Boppity Bland”

Jillian Bell as Eleanor in GODMOTHERED, exclusively on Disney+.

RATING

DIRECTOR

Sharon Maguire (Bridget Jones’s Diary – 2001)

STARRING

  • Jillian Bell as Eleanor
  • Isla Fisher as Mackenzie Walsh
  • Erica Parks as Young Mackenzie
  • Jane Curtin as Moira
  • Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Paula Walsh
  • June Squibb as Carlease Burke

SYNOPSIS

In a magical world known as The Motherland, a young fairy godmother-in-training discovers that her profession as fairy godmother is in danger of ending. Determined to show that fairy godmothers are still needed, she tries to help a girl whose wish was ignored, only to discover that she grew into a woman named Mackenzie who grew disillusioned with the idea of a happily ever after.

REVIEW SUMMARY

If there was a magical incantation to summon Disney’s Godmothered, it would probably be “Bippity Boppity Bland.” Yes, the movie has its charms, but it’s just way too hokey and cheap looking to be fully enjoyed. In fact, with a sharper script, more genuine humour, and a little extra effort (or perhaps money) in the production department, this could have been on the level of another magical family classic: Elf. But alas, everyone seems content to deliver another middle-of-the-road cornball outing that will easily be forgotten once the credits roll. Admittedly, Jillian Bell does give a fun performance as the sweetly naïve Eleanor, providing shades of Will Ferrell’s Buddy in Elf (seriously, these movies have A LOT in common). And while the rest of the cast seems to be going through the motions (looking at you Isla Fisher), the 91-year-old June Squibb shows up with a couple of outlandish cameos, yielding some entertainment. The other good news is that the film’s ending moments are rather sweet, giving a nice progressive nod to the future of “Fairy Godmothers.” But, unless you are between the ages of 5 and 7, Godmothered’s spell will prove to be nothing more than predictably average.

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