IN 1987, Rob Reiner directed The Princess Bride, a family fantasy which gleefully subverted the conventions of the fairytale and made a star of Cary Elwes.

The film is now a cult classic with its wicked sense of humour and crowd-pleasing blend of action and romance.

Ella Enchanted, based on Gail Carson Levine's best-selling novel, casts a similarly beguiling spell, re-imagining the Cinderella fairytale in a sassy world of giants, elves, witches and talking serpents. In a neat touch, director Tommy O'Haver casts Elwes in his film too, this time as a scheming would-be king with visions of grandeur.

As a baby, Ella of Frell (Anne Hathaway) is blessed by her fairy godmother, Lucinda Perriweather (Vivica A Fox), with the spell of obedience, which compels her to do as she is told.

Growing up, Ella manages to hide this 'gift' from her friends; only her loyal yet inept nursemaid Mandy (Minnie Driver) knows the truth and she pledges to keep it a secret.

When her father Sir Peter (Patrick Bergin) remarries spiteful Dame Olga (Joanna Lumley), poor Ella is relegated to the attic while her venomous step-sisters, Hattie (Lucy Punch) and Olive (Jennifer Higham), are given the run of the house by their equally odious mother.

Soon after, Ella meets dashing Prince Charmont (Hugh Dancy), the heir to the throne, and the spark of attraction is immediate. Unfortunately, Hattie and Olive also lust after Charmont and when the scheming siblings discover Ella's curse, they use it to their advantage to rebuff the Prince's amorous advances.

Ella Enchanted is 96 minutes of rollicking, feel-good entertainment, crammed to bursting with visual gags, smart one-liners and some rousing song and dance numbers including Queen's Somebody To Love.

The dialogue crackles.

Hathaway recaptures the sweetness and steely determination of her Princess Diaries character and she gels very nicely with Dancy's dream-boat royal.

Rating 9/10