A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song (2011)

It's a modern and enchanting twist on an enduring classic! Katie (Lucy Hale of Pretty Little Liars) dreams of being a recording artist but is continually thwarted by her cruel stepmother (Missi Pyle) and stepsister (Megan Park of The Secret Life of an American Teenager). When Katie falls hard for Luke (Freddie Stroma), the new boy at her Performing Arts school, she tries to get his attention with her singing. But when her stepsister takes credit for Katie's amazing voice and Luke falls for the wrong girl, Katie must learn to stand up for her dreams before her stepmother forces Katie to sing Luke into the arms of her wicked stepsister.It's a modern and enchanting twist on an enduring classic! Katie (Lucy Hale of Pretty Little Liars) dreams of being a recording artist but is continually thwarted by her cruel stepmother (Missi Pyle) and stepsister (Megan Park of The Secret Life of an American Teenager). When Katie falls hard for Luke (Freddie Stroma), the new boy at her Performing Arts school, she tries to get his attention with her singing. But when her stepsister takes credit for Katie's amazing voice and Luke falls for the wrong girl, Katie must learn to stand up for her dreams before her stepmother forces Katie to sing Luke into the arms of her wicked stepsister.

We all know the classic story of Cinderella, a beautiful young girl is trapped to basically a life of slavery by her step-mother and step-siblings.  This fall, however, Warner Premiere along with director Damon Santostefano brings a modern musical twist to the fairy tale.  It is starring Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars, Scream 4), and entitled, A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song.

 

Katie Gibbs (Lucy Hale) has a pretty interesting life.  Whether it is taking care of her ungrateful Step-mother's (Missie Pyle, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) mansion, playing Mother to her Step- bother Victor (The Crazies), or trying to fulfill her dreams of being a musician, there is hardship at every turn of the corner.  However, through it all, Katie still tries to smile and put a good spin on life.

 

When a new transfer student from Europe named Luke (Freddie Stroma, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) arrives at her school, Katie and her Stepsister (Megan Park, The Secret Life of the American Teenager) both fall madly in love with him and try to win over his affections as well as the top spot in the Winter Talent Show.

 

Taking its cues from such film franchises as High School Musical and Glee, A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song, tries to captivate the tween female audience with its adolescent drama, musical numbers, and light heartedness. The cast of the story is extremely front-loaded, with Lucy Hale having most of the film resting on her shoulders' however Megan Park and Freddie Stroma give solid performances as well. 

 

One key component of this genre is the music found in the film.  While A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song does not have a Billboard smash hit soundtrack on its hand's, Lucy Hale's songs are very catchy, and will have you either humming the soundtrack or purchasing a digital copy of it when it is released online.

 

Coming to DVD the same day and date as digital download, A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song is loaded with more special features then you see these days on theatrical film's home entertainment releases -- including a Spotlight on Lucy Hale and Freddie Stroma; learning new dance moves with the case; a behind the scenes of the film; and a music video of Lucy Hale's song "Bless Myself".

 

While a bit campy at times, the A Cinderella Story Once Upon a Song achieves what it sets out to do -- be a fun film for tweens and family alike to watch to pass the time on a weekend.