This is a modern-day fairy tale that examines our obsession with looks and celebrity. Due to an ancient curse, Penelope (Christina Ricci) was born with the face of a pig. The curse can be broken only if she marries a blue-blood, but every eligible chap runs screaming from the family home as soon as they lay eyes on sweet Penelope. (Actually, she is not that hideous, which undermines both the plight of her character and the story line.) An unscruplulous tabloid reporter (Peter Dinklange) hires handsome Max (James McAvoy) to pose as a suitor to get a photo of the pig girl, but his heart gets in the way. Yes, it's another one of those films that wants to tell young girls to accept difference and find someone who will love them for who they are. But then every movie says that these days. Message to scriptwriters: sorry, they aren't listening. It's all very worthy and whimsical, but ultimately rather insipid and safe.
U, 90 mins