OnScreen Review: "Godmothered"
If you haven’t seen the new Disney+ original movie Godmothered yet, there’s no time like the present. The film directed by Sharon Maguire, starring Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers, Confessions of a Shopaholic) and Jillian Bell (Workaholics, 22 Jump Street) is simply put, just a joy to watch.
The film is centered around Bell’s character Eleanor who is in training to become a fairy godmother until “The Motherland” where she lives is threatened with shut down because no one needs a fairy godmother anymore. Eleanor takes matters into her own hands and finds a letter from ten-year-old Mackenzie in need of a fairy godmother. Eleanor sets out to find the child only to find she is now an adult (played by Fisher).
As you can imagine, hijinks and hilarity ensue, but I won’t ruin the whole movie for you. You’ll have to watch it for yourself. However, I will tell you what I loved most about this movie while trying to steer clear of spoilers!
To start, it is set during Christmas time, making it obviously the perfect film for right now. It is also a family movie through and through making it the perfect movie night watch with your kids (or by yourself, I don’t judge). There is nothing sweeter in this movie than watching Mackenzie (Fisher) and her daughters reconnect and learn the joys of magic. It will make you remember what this season is really for, connecting with family and enjoy the love that is all around us.
The movie really teaches you that magic is all around in the form of love. I know that sounds cheesy, but in a year where there has been so much anger, hurt, and strife, I think we can also use the reminder from Godmothered to spread love and magic wherever we can.
Now, I will say that the film does carry some classic Disney tropes. The young woman is facing challenges in life but if she just gets a makeover and learns to dress better and wear makeup she’ll fall in love and everything will be fixed! It is a slightly annoying trope in the film, but also who are we to say that Mackenzie didn’t need a makeover to feel better?! She is a grown woman who can do whatever she wants, so I’ll let Disney have this one. It is refreshing that although the makeover does catch the attention of Mackenzie’s love interest, the whole film is not centered around this.
Many movies have conditioned us to believe that love in a movie is always between the main character and a romantic love interest, and almost always between a man and a woman. This movie plays into that trope and tricks you into thinking all Mackenzie needs is to get together with the guy she likes, because that’s how she’ll find happiness. But, at the last minute, you get a surprise ending that goes a different direction from your typical love story. I will admit, I still love a sweet kiss between the main character and the love interest. But I will also say, the ending to this love story is so much more satisfying and so much more magical. I may have cried some pretty large tears.
This movie mixed the traditional Disney with the new wave of female led Disney so effortlessly. It gives you the feeling of watching a classic princess film while also teaching young girls that you can live your life however you want. In mixing the old Disney with the new, there is also a sweet surprise at the end. This ending teaches everyone, and I truly mean everyone, that they can be whoever they want, do whatever they want, and spread magic, no matter who they are. This is a strong female led movie, and this ending will show you how these kinds of movies are making room for everyone to be themselves and tell their stories. Warning, you may shed a few tears, as I did.
The comedy of the film (Jillian Bell doing what she does best, effortless comedy), coupled with the sweetness of all the characters, coupled with it being set during Christmas; I don’t think it gets anymore magical than that. So, go home, curl up, and enjoy this truly delightful film. I promise you won’t regret it. Happy watching!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars