Even though I have mucho disdain for Reese Witherspoon as an American Citizen Standing On American Ground a person these days, I kind of love the way she’s been dressing lately. I don’t feel bad about looking at paparazzi photos of her either – Reese clearly wants to be photographed out and about in LA, and as such she models some very cute casual clothes. I especially like the green v-neck she wore for an outing to Right Start – to pick up baby stuff, I guess. Because ladies love to go shopping in three-inch heels.
Late last week, Reese signed on to a new movie. It is… a romantic-comedy. SHOCKING. It also has a fairy tale theme, because of course it does. The only films being made these days are about fairy tales or comic books.
Disney is taking a comedic look at the fairy-tale genre. The studio has picked up Happily Ever After, a pitch from Nahnatchka Khan, the creator of Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, that has Reese Witherspoon attached to star.
Witherspoon is also on board to produce with her Pacific Standard partner Bruna Papandrea. John Jacobs of Smart Entertainment is also producing.
The idea is to catch up with a prince and princess about 10 years after they have ridden off into the sunset for their “happily ever after.” The couple discovers that even in fairy-tale land, you have to work to keep your relationship and your life together.
The idea for it was generated by at Smart Entertainment’s head of production, Zac Unterman. Jacobs and Unterman approached Khan with the idea; they knew the writer from working on American Dad for many years. The three developed together into a great pitch, which they then took to Witherspoon. After some more honing, they then took it to Burr and Westerman who sparked to it and set the project up. Unterman will act as an exec producer.
Happily brings Witherspoon back into the fold of the studio that made her 2002 hit romantic comedy, Sweet Home Alabama. The actress is in pre-production on Wild, Fox Searchlight’s adaptation of the Cheryl Strayed memoir. (Witherspoon is starring and producing via Pacific Standard the Jean-Marc Vallee drama.)
I was going to say that Reese is 37 years old, and maybe it’s time to forgo the pitch meetings when the pitch involves anything about being a fairy tale princess in a romantic comedy… but then I remembered that some actresses are still beating the dead rom-com horse well into their 40s, so what do I know? This seems like the kind of movie that Amy Adams would have passed on, right? And Drew Barrymore too. Still, I guess Reese needs the money. Her liquor bills are getting out of control.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
I would absolutely watch. Why do all the princesses have to be pre-pubescent? Or all the romantic heroines, for that matter?
And yes, she’s totally been feeding the paps with the most chic little outfits since the ‘incident’. Her street style is my favorite aside from Olivia Palermo.
Agreed…it actually seems both ageist and sexist to me that a princess should just be a twenty-something (at the very oldest).
Why? Because no one would object to the casting of a middle aging woman as the VILLIAN in one of these fairytale flicks. Which goes back to the medieval image of the wicked witch as the crone who has outlived her fertility–and her usefulness to society.
I’m hardly a fan of Reese ‘Do you know who I am’ Witherspoon, but it would be pretty neat if, you know, we could move past the centuries old divisions of nubile princess-heroines, and middle age and up villains.
Agree with everything you said Anna.
For that matter, what’s wrong with 30 and 40-year-olds in romantic comedies? It’s possible to be desirable and find love beyond the 20s.
Agree, ladies! 100% agree with you.
Agree agree agree!!
ITA I am almost 40 and I still love my fairy tale princesses but I would love to see one like in Enchanted rather than one on my 5 year old nieces tv channels
What? You can’t be a princess after 25? Men can be the lovable guy into their 40s.
I think it’s great that they are casting her as a princess. Thirty seven is still fairly young and it’s refreshing to see a movie where the actress isn’t a teen or twenty-something.
A princess, huh? Don’t you know who WE are?
Hahahaha!
The age doesn’t bother me, but the genre just feels so dated and bankrupt. It’s like the lone- wolf style action movie; it had it’s heyday, everyone got old and moved on. I think I’ll pass.
AWWW I will never tire of cliche’d princess movies. ESPECIALLY of the rom-com persuasion. Here’s to hoping it’s actually good!
Again everything Anna said. I am not ashamed to admit I love all things fairy tale.
This. Hollywood is seriously lacking in imagination.
And Reese has recently crapped in the bed, so I don’t think it will do very good box office….
I agree with you T. Fanty but I do have to say it is an interesting take to see what happens after the Happily Ever After…I probably wouldn’t rush to the movies to see this but I’d probably rent it from Netflix out of curiosity.
I really think Reese should have played Amy in Gone Girl, that part actually seemed like it was written for her to play.
Exactly T.Fanty, That stuff the whole romantic comedy trope is just Dumb Tired …oh and unrealistic but whatever!
well, iron man, the avengers, comic book heroes, action movies and horror flicks of all sorts are also ‘unrealistic’, but for some reason, they are fairly respected in our culture. Whereas the idea that true love [albeit it a fantasy] might be an enjoyable one to ponder once in awhile, or even as an archetype, seems to get visceral disdain from so many people. joseph gordon levitt’s new movie comes to mind. Oh yea, it’s such a bane on our society that some people, and perhaps *mostly women* [that’s teh real issue imo], actually enjoy romanticizing life…I mean, we really should stick to people exploding things and shooting each other, or flying off into space, for that matter.
But I hear you that romantic comedies have gotten tired in terms of storyline. I think most movies try to combine too many genres these days; it’s similar to the music industry. Everyone’s ‘crossing over’ and most are not doing it very well at all.
Lrm I don’t think Women liking that fantasy Vs fanboys liking their fantasy is the issue for me (for the record Horror>drama>action>docs>comedy is my jam) but the fact that in 2013 women are still being peddled to women as not fully realized or happy or full or fully fleshed human being cause “once I find mah prince and then we can have a white picket fence and babbbiieess!” In a way is infuriating that we vote with our dollars and that is what we are served and in another level is obnoxious that with all types of interesting, cool women with great stories of all walks of life (even here in Celebitchy) all we get is another Jennifer Aniston/Kate Hudson will get her man in the end story
I agree. I don’t even watch rom coms anymore. So dated. Time to evolve Reese.
I like the idea, though – the ten years later part. Although, it sounds more like a skit than a full length movie.
Good point.
Me too, it’s different, and hopefully a funny take on how not everything is perfect forever. I loved the B—in Apt 23, so I’m hoping it’s a similar tone.
I do love her casual style.
I love that green sweater. I’ll reserve judgment on the movie until I see a trailer. Her co-star will be important because she’s a good actress but so unlikeable (at least to me).
Agreed. She’s just crap in almost everything she does because her personality stinks.
Lol @ liquor bills!
She’s so boring.
Yes, and her clothes are boring. She dresses like she’s been through an especially dull What Not to Wear makeover.
I will give it a miss I think and just re-watch The Princess Bride instead.
ahhhhh…now that was a tale well told.
*sigh*
Ugh I don’t know… I’d consider watching this if it was someone different in it maybe. Like, it was completely dorky when Amy Adams did the whole thing in whatever movie it was – but it was also kind of cute, and she’s likable.
Reese isn’t really likable.
No. Just no.
I don’t know why just one drunk driving incident means she’s an alcoholic.
The fairytale theme is getting really old really quickly. At least this one is 10 years later but probably still predictable.
She would be more likable if she dropped the fake sugar personality. She seems like a real life bitch on wheels.
I would actually watch this movie if it was a sequel to Enchanted starring Amy Adams. It always felt like a missed opportunity that they didn’t make a sequel to that movie when it was a financial and critical success bc Disney was too cheap to actually believe they had to pay for the rights to Amy’s face as a doll in their Princess line.
I also think it’s ageist and problematic to say that women over 40 or late 30’s shouldn’t be romantic heroines. That’s what contributes to the continuing devaluing of women in our culture over 35 and perpetuates this idea they are less romantically viable as they age.
So premise? Cute. Actress? Not a fan of Reese. I’d much prefer Amy Adams in this movie. She’s a way better actress than Reese and she’s not a jerk. But Adams (deservedly) has her pick of projects right now and doesn’t need to be a Princess anymore.
I always wanted a sequel to that too. I thought the reverse would have been funny – a real life woman dropped into fairy tale land.
It’s maybe only me but for some reason i really don’t like this woman. she looks so sugary and sweet but she has the vibe of a proper bitch in real life. A bit like a Stepford wife.
I think many of us have recently woken up to the real Reese. Too many reports/recordings coming from too many different origins to dismiss them any more; where there is smoke there is fire and she is a b*tch.
Reese looks pretty here. Those jeans are pretty adorable….
If she wants to be a Princess at 40, go for it!! Why men can only be a Charming prince when they are pushing almost 50…
Exactly! In reading the story above, I was thinking “and the male lead will be in his 60s, but that’s OK”- ! I would agree that it would be goofy for Reese to play an ingenue princess, but the princess 10 yrs on? I think it’s perfect. Will be interesting to see who they cast as the Prince-my vote is for Greg Kinnear.
You’d think that once someone had won an Oscar, they’d be more inclined to pick meaty, quality roles.
I would actually watch this movie if it was a sequel to Enchanted starring Amy Adams. It always felt like a missed opportunity that they didn’t make a sequel to that movie when it was a financial and critical success bc Disney was too cheap to actually believe they had to pay for the rights to Amy’s face as a doll in their Princess line.
I also think it’s ageist and problematic to say that women over 40 or late 30’s shouldn’t be romantic heroines or Princesses. On the contrary we need them to be! That’s what contributes to the continuing devaluing of women in our culture over 35 and perpetuates this idea they are less romantically viable as they age.
So premise? Cute. Actress? Not a fan of Reese. I’d much prefer Amy Adams in this movie. She’s a way better actress than Reese and she’s not a jerk. But Adams (deservedly) has her pick of projects right now and has already done the Princess thing better.
Why do I have a feeling no one else wanted this role?
I think you hit the nail on the head.
I love her.. she screwed up. The world didn’t end and no one died. She was a little full of herself, but in fairness, she leads a pretty clean life. I would watch It… Not every role needs to be life altering, some should just be fun.
If Reese wanted to really give us something to see… she would find a great script, were the main character is a proper b*tch.
Something that she can really put her special level of b*tchiness on.
Because after that performance for the Atlanta Police… she is missing her calling in life.
Reese needs to step up and let her inner hag out for all to see on the screen. And win another Oscar for it!
(And for the record. I love that she got drunk and mouthy with the Police. Just too bad that those lovely Officers didn’t taser her!)
Disney, seriously?
I’m not a Reese fan but I can’t really blame a woman in HW (especially one starting to age out of her most bankable niche) taking the work that she’s offered because it’s rough to get roles period these days since HW’s go-to stable of actresses is shrinking more and more.
However, Disney? Seriously? Whoever is in charge of greenlighting their movies needs to be fired. Just because one movie with a certain theme seems like a good idea, doesn’t mean that every other movie that is greenlit for the next two years needs to be of the same theme.
They’ve got a stable of at least FOUR (maybe more) live-action princess-fairytale themed movies they’re rolling out over the next year-to-two years.
Malificent, Into the Woods, Cinderella, and now Reese’s new flick.
They’ve watered down and Disneyfied a lot of Into the Woods so I expect it to be very rom-com Disney goodness more along the lines of Enchanted than the stage musical.
I really don’t get a lot of Disney’s film choices these days.
How do you explain Sandy Bullock? She is almost 50 years old and just hitting her stride in the movie business. What about Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchet and the one English lady with the hot body Helen Mirren.
The problem with Reese is not her age, its her bitchiness to those in HW that have caught up with her. She has done and behave in some really despicable ways and now that the world has seen a little glimpse of the real Reese, those that she step on in HW do not have to take her crap anymore. I am sure she has made enemies in HW who don’t have to take her crap anymore.
I do not want any more Disney live-action fairytales (or other live-action fairytales for the matter). Into the Woods is fine since it is based on Broadway musical and is a bit different, but I will never watch this, Maleficient and Cinderella.
A few people already brought up the good point that there’s no reason a woman older than her 20s shouldn’t play a princess, there is also the fact that this is set 10 years after they meet. 37 is a pretty accurate age to be playing someone a decade into a marriage.
What is the issue here, besides personally disliking her? None.
I find this post utterly sexist. I don’t like her but why an actress wouldn’t be able to be the lead character in romantic in her 30’s, 40’s, and why not even 50’s and 60’s (helen mirren anyone? Susan Sarandon? Catherine Deneuve?)
The men play action heroes studs well into their 60’s… not really realistic…. but there is no one to find it irrelevant!
How old is the Zack Pine kid who is cast as a Prince in that new flick? Just wondering, how old are dudes cast as princes? In Enchanted, how old was the actor playing the prince?
I am glad they are making Wild. More money for the PNW!!
I like Reese
Amy Adams in Enchanted was enough for me.
Ditto – I nearly needed insulin after that one.
As long as Tom Cruise is still doing action films & beating up men half his age and twice his size … more power to the romcom queens.
It isn’t her age that bothers me but the direction of her career. What happened to her? That movie sounds pitiful. I still don’t understand why she didn’t also star in “Gone Girl,” she would have been perfect for Amy!
I’m not sure I understand emphasis on her age here. She is playing a princess TEN YEARS after her fairytale “ending”. A princess who has aged 10 years, yes?
The “princess” thing seems so old and tired. JMO.
“Her liquor bills are skyrocketing.” —–That was bitchy.
I like it.
As long as this film isn’t too cutsey girly, then I have no issues with it. The thing I don’t like about a lot of romantic comedies is that they aren’t really all the funny anymore to me, and the acting isn’t good enough (in my opinion) to overlook the problems of a mediocre-horrible script.
Two films like that for me are “Maid in Manhattan” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”. Maid in Manhattan, I only watched because I LOVE Ralph Fiennes (although a little less, he’s a little skeevy) and Natasha Richardson (God, I miss her acting)–not because JLO was this awe inspiring actress. I thought the script was meh–but Ralph and Natasha made up for it.
Same with MAMS–I read the script, and I thought it was mediocre as well. There wasn’t anything different about it, that made the words stand out–but the performances made it funny and smart.
So as long as this isn’t Reese playing Elle in another film, then I’m cool with it.
I’m so disappointed in this blog post for a couple of reasons. First of all – why so ageist and sexist? Second of all, the liquor comment? Yes, she might a problem with alcohol – are we mocking people for that again? SMH.
With that chin, she really should be playing the role of the wicked witch.
Disney and Reese should be reason enough to avoid this like the plague!
I so miss her from the days of Freeway, and Election. She was great in indie films. I hardly get down on people for being successful, but from Legally Blonde and on, I’ve kind of hated her.