Penelope (2006)

Penelope (2006)

Comedy/Fantasy/Romance

Penelope Wilhern, the daughter of Frank and Jessica Wilhern is young and beautiful woman, who has the ability to make
happy any man who doesn't see her face. Generations ago an evil witch put a curse on Wilhern family after frustrated and pregnant servant girl threw herself off the cliff, angry witch swore that the next Wilhern who will be born if she's a girl, will have pig face. For five generations only sons were born until Penelope, who truly had the curse. The curse will be lifted if she finds someone who love her truly and faithfully. After a tabloid reporter Lemon tried to get the photograph
of infant Penelope and attacks Jessica, her parents decide to fake Penelope's death and put her away in their mansion to keep her safe from the outside world curious eyes. Years later when Penelope has grown to be an adult, her parents use help of matchmaker named Wanda and she is introduced to many gentlemen, who could fall in love with Penelope and breaks the curse. Unfortunately every man who lays eyes on Penelope, runs away in terror. Edward Vanderman's panicked
escape from the Wilhern's results in a newspaper, climing him to be insane. To clear his name, he teams up with Lemon to get a photograph of Penelope. They find a perfect candidate for Penelope, Max Campion, a rich young man, who is
disowned by family because of gambing issues. Lemon and Vanderman pay Max to pose to Penelope as her future bridegroom. Max starts talking to Penelope through one-way mirror, hiding a camera in his jacket to snap a picture at a perfect time. But Max sees Penelope as sweet and charming girl, she starts to trust him and even shows Max her face. Max is not scared of her face, but accidentally takes a picture of her, few moments later he escapes. Max is caught by Jessica and Wanda making a deal with Lemon. Max runs into the house, trying to explain his actions to Penelope, but it's her time to talk. She just wants to try if the curse will lift, if it doesn't, she promises to kill herself. Penelope asks asks Max to marry her, but he declines, Max leaves and Penelope runs to her room. Frustrated with her life and her mother not giving up, Penelope escapes the mansion and decides to see the world on her own for the first time. Penelope takes a room for herself in a big, fancy hotel. She goes shopping, walks around in the park with a scarf that's covered her nose. Jessica and Franklin go to the police station to give them Penelope's description when Jessica discovers her wallet is stolen. Realizing Penelope took it, they rush to the hotel, where she checked in with Jessica's credit card. Just when Franklin and Jessica are talking to administrator, Penelope sees them and escapes the hotel from a window. He finds a bar Max told her about and orders a beer. While drinking a beer, she gets talking to Annie, who's came to the bar after a rough night. Parents spot her in front of a museum and run after her, Penelope heads to the bar and faints. Annie takes off the scarf and lets everyone see her face. Edward confesses to his feelings to Penelope, though she hesitates at first, but sees the chance of curse being broken and young people start to date. When Max, who's name is actually Johnny Martin sees them together in the theatre, he understands Edward is just using her. Giving their wedding vows in front of the altar, Penelope changes her mind and runs away. Stepping back and forth in her room, listening Jessica trying to convince her about the wedding, Penelope
blurts out she likes the way she is. Her sees her whole life before her eyes and faints. When she wakes up and realizes  her pig nose is gone and she looks normal. Penelope sees Johnny at the party and they realize they are right for each other.
Produced by Scott Steindorff, who produced romance-thriller movie The Human Stain in 2003.
Directed by Mark Palansky, who directed comedy-drama-thriller movie Stories Of Lost Souls in 2005.
Written by Leslie Caveny.

Cast: Christina Ricci, Catherine O'Hara, Richard E. Grant, James McAvoy, Reese Witherspoon