The fairy tale of Cinderella has been retold many times over the years. However, it isn't often that such a retelling results in a film as revisionist in Ever After. Eliminating the fantastical elements (pumpkins and fairy godmothers), while enhancing the romantic angle, Ever After strives to recast the fairy tale as a misunderstood episode in history. The result works surprisingly well. There is, however, one critical flaw in the story which Ever After never addresses. Why does the social climbing Baroness Rodmilla deign to marry Danielle's low-born father. It's a crucial question which underlies the film's themes of class inequality. However, the film shies away from ever providing a substantive answer. Drew Barrymore delivers a fair performance as the lead. She's definately more headstrong than most previous Cinderellas. At least, she has a reliable supporting cast to lean on. Dougray Scott provides an admirable romantic interest, and Anjelica Huston is perfectly cast as the wicked stepmother. Romantics will no doubt enjoy Ever After, easily overlooking its flaws. Others who attend will find, while not a perfect film, one which is better than they hoped.