Penlope

3 stars out of 5

[A guest review by my daughter Rae]

While the fairy tale narrative of the movie "Penelope" a sequestered rich young woman with the nose of a pig is entertaining and touching, that is not what drew me to see this movie- it was James Mcavoy, the dramatic actor who won our hearts in "Last King of Scotland." "He's in a comedy!" I thought to myself. "Finally a chance to see him smile, to see him fall in love and to have a happy ending." He is not the lead in this, understandably, Penelope-centered movie, but I watched him with rapt attention. He spends much of the movie skulking and snarling behind his greasy bangs at a gambling table, but there are key scenes which let Mcavoy's trademark charm shine through, and he lit up the screen. The courting scenes allow the audience to fall in love with him as Penelope is falling in love with him because we're both observers. There is a bizarre voyeuristic dynamic where she watches him through a two-way mirror and talks to him through a microphone. He acts as her knowing puppet tap-dancing (metaphorically) for her pleasure and entertainment. He plays instruments for her and plays a game of chess instructing him where he should move her pieces. Mcavoy's acting, his character's soliciting has to carry the scenes because he is trying to impress Penelope, and in doing so he realizes he wants to impress her. In the rest of the movie, Mcavoy's character is very conflicted and distraught, but I still derived comfort and satisfaction from the formulaic (doesn't mean bad) nature of the movie and the realization that they would end up together. I realize I'm conflating Mcavoy and the characters he plays, but I'm glad, at least this once, the guy caught a break.