After the Ball

This is just another version of Cinderella with a twist of fashion. I thought it was charming and entertaining. Some parts delivered from by the main actress made me cringe a bit, but this is the type of movies I enjoy - clean and family friendly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It was cute, funny, and appropriately over-the-top acting for a modern comedy retelling of the Cinderella story. One of the reviews mentions that they don't like the portrayal of stepmothers and stepsisters and the inaccuracy of the fashion industry etc, etc. Well this being comedy, and a parallel of Cinderella I don't think it should receive less stars because it focused on the story and the simple characters versus trying to be accurate. It is a very enjoyable, lighthearted movie. And if one is looking for a deep plot, accurate portrayals of the fashion industry and design, with multi-dimensional characters, you should look elsewhere. This movie is not for you and you will agree with the other reviewer instead of enjoying a truly good movie.

After the Ball is an entertaining little comedy that takes a few elements of Cinderella and uses them to tell the story of a young fashion designer who manages to get a job at her father's design company, only to be ousted by her stepmother and stepsisters. With the encouragement of her aunt and her actor friend, she disguises herself as a young male designer and manages to get hired back at the company where she battles the evil forces out to get her/him, but with newly found self-confidence.

I was expecting nothing from this movie, but my daughter wanted to watch it and it had a rating higher than one star on Netflix, so I figured why not. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. While it's predictable in the extreme, it's genuinely funny and moves along at a good pace, with a solid screenplay and likable characters. I had never heard of Portia Doubleday before watching this movie, but her performance is terrific. She's funny, sympathetic and simply a pleasure to watch.

Don't expect a profound or earth-shattering experience, but if you are in the mood for some lighthearted fun, you could do much worse than After the Ball.

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.

It probably helps to compare this film more to 'Twelfth Night' than to 'Cinderella', though it owes both.

I enjoyed it; but then I enjoy anything with Portia Doubleday. She is not as slapstick-funny as Amanda Bynes; but she is prettier; and she carries off the awkwardness of the Kate character amusingly and even credibly. You are inclined to like her character here - she is honest, well-meaning, and determined without being either overly sappy or shallow.

If there are shallow acting performances, they're down to everyone else - Daniel's character was insufficiently developed, making him appear like a caricature of Prince Charming rather than a real-life, modern-day Orsino; and Elise's character is hardly any Olivia. The actors are good enough but they aren't given much to work with.

Being a vehicle for Miss Doubleday is the movie's one saving grace. I really missed seeing her (little spoiler here) on the runway at the end; as it'd have been a major PR success for the company to have had Kate present in her new capacity; and of course she's lacking nothing to have made a good model... if only on her own terms :)