User reviews

So nice to have a teen romantic film where people just communicate properly, sensitively and get on with it! None of this sneaking around, no big misunderstanding or not telling the truth for some other nonsensical reason, they talked. I loved it for that. It is a bit twee and the Cinderella theme is dominant but there is a modern element that I have never any other Cinderella-esque movie.

We enjoyed it in spite of the terribly broad acting, particularly of the aunt and uncle. The reality is much grittier, but the emotional abuse suffered by the title character is not as rare as you might think. 'Want to be the hero yourself? ...then consider serving as a CASA. Just Google it.

Imagine what a Cinderella story would be like if it was set in modern suburbia with high school students. Okay, now you are imagining this incorrectly. So imagine it was a realistically based story that addressing the issues and mechanisms associated dealing with abusive foster parent environments. Now you are getting the picture.

This story of Cindy Ella (get it), who lives with her aunt and uncle and their daughters, while going to school, and there is a handsome guy involved.

This is not exactly a well written story, and while the acting is okay, it is all a bit superficial. But it addresses some important issues intelligently enough. So yeah, it is a good one for teens to watch.

I wouldn't recommend this movie for children, because its heavy and unrealistic without teaching much anything valuable. The main character projects very few of the values the original Cinderella projected and is... quite bland, and so are most of the other characters. The only character I have half a good word for is Indy's sidekick, and even that went bad with the sideplot happening there.

Unfortunately the acting makes it unwatchable for anyone somewhat older. The exaggerations would have been better done in a comic way, because now its just thoroughly cringy and awful. The typical TV Movie soundtrack playing in the background is painfully obvious.

I don't understand what the target audience of this movie is supposed to be, nor do I understand the point of its existence. The movie could've been so much more, but it managed to get every single possible thing wrong. I'm sorry for the actors for having to act such an awful script. The acting seems overdone and unfortunately the pacing is also way off and the conversations seem unnatural. It would work well in a theater IMHO but overdoing it to this degree is unnecessary when the camera is half a meter from your face.

Watched during a romcom binge, but this managed to still stick out as horrible. Sorry. The second star was gained for the lack of use of GIF birds, the third for effort and having a proper camera man and some +/- decent scenes.

Worth SKIPPING channels for 10 more minutes instead of 1.5 hours of your life. I think you get used to it at around 50 minutes in, or maybe the muscles around your eye just tire of cringing.

This is not a film that I'd ever choose to watch. In fact, it was my sister who picked this film. I thought I'd be gone in a few minutes - I was tempted to but I wanted to gauge how bad the film was after seeing the clichéd Aunt.

However, with such character clichés and a following coincidence where Indy finds out more about her Mother's experience, this film grew on me. I stopped caring as much about the aforementioned and became involved with the protagonist. This is directly due to the solid performance of Paris Warner who plays Indy. Her portrayal is naturalised of someone who has grown to be treated subserviently. And given the anti-Cinderella stamp (based on the novel by Jenni James), Warner was able to evade the synonymous character to some extent, allowing the character to have her own story.

I did not think I would like this movie but I really enjoyed it. I fell like it provides an important lesson for kids and young adults as to what abuse looks like. The most dangerous type of abuse is the emotional and mental abuse that a kid might not identify as they were told that they deserved it. I love the moral of the story. The writing and acting was solid and you are cheering for Indy. I also love how little the focus is on her cousins. They put the focus on her and really providing a valuable lesson. I really really recommend it.

I almost peed myself watching the aunt try to act. Abhorrent, and the uncle was a close second to being the worst actor I have witnessed in my lifetime. If I wasn't so lazy I would have turned this off. RIDICULOUS

Full Disclosure: I'm a 60 something male who generally likes Westerns (with John Wayne, James Garner, Clint Eastwood, ...), the Dirty Harry movies, Police dramas, and so on . . . Normally this is not my type of movie. But I really enjoyed this modern retelling of the Cinderella story when I watched it with my wife. It's quite moving with some strong acting by the actors playing the three main teenage characters: Indy, Bryant, and Max. Obviously the evil aunt and uncle are caricatures, but that's a bit of a vehicle to help move the story along. And it's more than just the Cinderella tale, it's also very much about being a teenager and the trials kids face during those years.

If you're like me (or not like me?), I would say give it a try. You may very well be surprised by this little gem.

I did like the new aspect of the story seeing for What it actually was the emotional abuse and all, but the doctor advice and all seemed a bit too much pushed forward that it spoiled the watching. Also the meek and mousy like main character was a bit annoying but then again a good fit for the role. Too many contradictions to comment even.

I really enjoyed this movie. It wasn't as well made as some I've watched but the main character was likeable and had you really rooting for her. It seemed to me to be more of a real life situation feel. Which isn't completely true of a lot of movies. I think it potrays a very realistic example of someone who suffers from emotional abuse and how they can not even realize that they are a victim which was interesting and thought provoking. And it showed great examples of friendship and kindness and I would recommend this movie to teenagers everywhere.

I really liked this movie, but for all the wrong reasons. I spent the entire time wondering where they found these actors. I think the girl who played the lead has potential, but the woman playing the Aunt was like somebody who volunteers to do community college theater and get through a production by overacting. And I also spent a lot of time I thinking of how I would have rewritten the script. There was just something missing, but I'm not sure what. I'm glad that this gave a lot of people employment, and the chance to continue to work, and hopefully get better at their craft. So I guess I would compare this movie to minor league baseball. You were out there just trying to get better and be ready when you get called up to the major leagues.

I love the movie watched the whole but trust me the lead actress has no future in acting career till she works really hard on her emotions ..she sucked in each and every god damn seen ..watching her was so boring her rage love and scared of emotion were all the same her dialogue delivery was awful ... In the scene She ran from bryant house and bryant later found her sitting under a tree shivering and cold ... The scene could have been so impactful for the way it is been written it could have left you in tears but I literally felt nothing for her ..her acting was so fake that I was laughing ... Not everyone is emma watson and kristen stwert you see .. If you can ignore that part movie was great storyline was good shot in a fantastic location direction was awesome dialogue writing was the best ... A family movie packed with some child caring advice ...must watch ..

Characters all perfect so glad got away from Hallmark older movies so enjoyable

This was rather painful to watch in spite of the cute story. Mediocre writing and poor acting become too evident while watching.

Despite any bad reviews, I think it has a feel good factor quality to it.

The script is badly written, and the acting is either wooden or baffoonish. It is neither a fairy-tale (magically speaking), nor in anyway realistic enough to make any sense. I am sorry for all involved in it's production.

This is a good family movie with a good message. Also, the main actors were very likable. The message is an important one. Emotional abuse is quite insidious and, like the main character here, it is often hard to define. All one knows is they are being made to feel bad about almost everything about themselves, and nothing they do is good enough. In most cases, such abuse also involves physical abuse. In this movie, someone cared enough to help out, and fortunately their efforts worked. I Highly recommend it. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 01/02/2021

I enjoyed the fresh, realistic take on the Cinderella trope. The Àctriss who plays Indy carries the movie. The girl next door you wish was next door. She handles scenes of confusing and intense feelings well.

Not Shakespeare, but I didn't expect it to be. It actually far exceeded my expectations.

The producer saved a lot of money on talent. They spent it all on production but saved on rookie actors, except for Paris Warner, who did a nice job in the lead role. The aunt and uncle were laughably awful. More attention to casting would have made this more watchable.