After the Ball

I'm always a sucker for Cinderella-themed movies. But mostly, when I watch a movie, I just get disappointed because of the story being silly and corny. When I saw the title, I watched AFTER THE BALL without any expectations. I'm glad I did. It's lighthearted but not corny. All the characters are likable, even Colin, and he's very good at playing creepy. My favorites are Maurice and Richard. They're hilarious. The two evil stepsisters, I thought were sisters in real life since they look so much alike. I don't get when people say the two leads didn't have chemistry when they did. My favorite moments are the phone call in the loo and the "fondue" scene. Hysterical!

'After the Ball' is a cute film if you are looking for something light and funny. Caught on from the film description that this would be a take on Shakespeare's comedy 12th Night, where the heroine dresses as a male and the intrigues begin from there. If your into films in the fashion industry, this is no 'The Devil Wears Prada', but does include a lot of the business of fashion in the story line...though don't count on it being completely believable. Lots of story holes and plot deadends, but it's a light film, so whatever. Actors are adequate, some a bit over the top silly. Best actor in the film is veteran Mimi Kuzyk, as the Godmother. Check if out if seeking something lightly amusing.

Kate is a fashion designer who dresses up as Nate in order to reveal her step mother's mal doings and save her father's fashion business. After the ball is a good enough movie for a TV movie until Kate turns to Nate. Nate is unnatural simply and he behaves very oddly for not being suspected. The rest is just the cliché fairy tale that so many movies tried to adapt and failed. Cinderella is being pushed away by her step mother and her evil but stupid dangers as she finds the love of her life with the gentle prince. The whole Nate idea is just so naive and certainly not even possible, but in just a day Kate manages to alter her personality and become someone else. Not to even mention that the clothes that they produce do not belong to a fashion company, but that is just a minor setback compared to the whole direction and presentation of the movie. Odd enough the performances are not so bad and maybe that saves after the ball from giving it a 1.

Just like its name, After The Ball is a modern twist on the Cinderella story with a bit more substance thrown in. The supporting cast (especially Maurice!) and a well paced storyline makes this a delight to watch. Though the story is predictable, there was enough heart in it to make you want to follow Kate's journey. There is more to the plot than just romantic attraction but has elements of father/daughter relstionships, greed/deceit and mateship. You'll detect elements of Devil Wears Prada and She's The Man so if that's your kind of movie give this a go.

After the Ball is purely light entertainment with lots of make believe and succeeds in keeping it that way throughout the story. A very simple tale of a girl fresh out of designer school and discovering the job market is a tough place for her profession. Her father gives her a chance in his clothing manufacturing business and Kate/Nate ends up saving the business from sinister doings!! Yes its a silly story with a little bit of Cinderella and The Devil Wears Prada thrown in but the director Sean Garrity keeps it simple and fun and doesn't get too invested into the 'feelings' of the characters. Portia Doubleday is better at being the character Nate than she is at being Kate. And the two 'sisters' are perfect at being the buffoons of the story. If you get a chance check this one out!

C'mon, it's not Shakespeare, nor is it trying to be. I enjoyed the riff on the Cinderella story, especially the part about her father being alive. It's the first take on the original that I can recall where the Cinderella character wasn't an orphan. Was the material below the caliber of acting talent present? Yes. But I thought everyone did a good job with what they had to work with. I've seen plenty of stinkers, but I found this one charming.

"After The Ball" is an interesting retelling of the "Cinderella" story. It stars Portia Doubleday as the "Cinderella" character, applying for and getting the job as the newest clothes designer for her father's company...but Doubleday does it as a man. In her disguise as an effeminate, gay guy, Doubleday creates designs that would hopefully take her father's company out of mediocrity and bring it back to its former glory days. But a conniving, mean step-mother and two step-sisters won't make things easy for our heroine. "After The Ball" has all the elements of an entertaining Rom-Com (boy and girl meet cute, boy loses girl, boy gets girl, eccentric characters, some heart-felt moments, good laughs here and there), but there's nothing special about it. What could have been an original twist on the fairy tale becomes a rehash of "Tootsie" and "The Secret Of My Success." My most memorable, movie moment is the first scene when Doubleday appears as a man -- it's astonishing how well she pulls it off. Mannysmemorablemoviemoments

Honestly, After the Ball was difficult to watch. It was so unrealistic and silly - to the extent of being juvenile - that it was difficult to be engaged in the movie. And I am accustomed to watching a lot of TV movies and lower my standards appropriately. Its problems are simple, one-note characters a ridiculous plot with characters acting in completely unrealistic ways no chemistry between the romantic leads dialogue that sounds as if it was written by children an insulting depiction of the fashion industry an insulting depiction of parents (clueless) and step-parents (so evil and malicious that they nonsensically behave in ways that hurt themselves) This is fit for young children. However, if you're an adult, consider surfing the other channels. I'm sure you'll find something that deserves your time more than this. I mean, Really.

Portia Doubleday heads a phenomenal cast who have fun with Shakespeare's themes of disguises and miscommunication. I started watching this show thinking it was just a Cinderella remake, but was taken on a surprise road trip through a comedic spectacular.