This January, it's giving...season with A Cinderella Story (2004). Hilary Duff shines in this fairy tale remake that is far more about the journey than the destination. Featuring Chad Michael Murray, and Jennifer Coolidge, A Cinderella Story The familiar story of a neglected step-child who dreams of meeting her Prince Charming is taken into the age of the internet and cell phone, and given a high school rom-com makeover. With adolescent charm, a soundtrack full of high school slow dance bangers, and a script that serves sass for days, A Cinderella Story is a refreshing and modern twist on the story nobody asked to be retold.
Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, lived a beautiful little girl and her widowed father. Except the faraway land is the San Fernando Valley, and the time was 2004. Oh, and her dad is also dead. Sam (Hilary Duff) is forced to live with her evil stepmother (Jennifer Coolidge) and her two horrible daughters. When Sam accidentally starts a text/email chat with a mysterious and charming boy who invites her to their high school Halloween dance, Sam must sneak out of her late shift at her stepmother's diner. With the help of her coworkers, Sam costumes up just in time to meet her literal Prince Charming, who happens to be the most popular guy in school. With a mad dash back to the diner before midnight, a lost slipper, er, cell phone, and a grand romantic gesture, Cinderella Sam may actually live happily ever after. Because she has to. That's how it ends. We all know it. (ALICE ROSE)