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DIRECTOR'S CUT: Relationship Therapist Ranks Cinderella Romances

So... is this love? What is your favorite Cinderella movie? Who is your favorite Cinderella couple?

Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright watched a lot of Cinderella movies, so they're ranking Cinderella romances. The contenders are Cinderella (1950), Cinderella (2015), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, A Cinderella Story, Ever After, and Crazy Rich Asians. They talk about why the love at first sight trope is the worst, and they praise the movies that show couples growing together. Alan gets annoyed that Cinderella movies often rely on the prince being dumb, and Jonathan is so over interrupted kisses.

DIRECTOR'S CUT: Relationship Therapist Ranks Cinderella Romances

Comments

The Jennifer Coolidge montage is an excellent reminder that I would love for you guys to do a video on Austenland. Yes, it is horribly cheesy, and I'm fairly certain that Jennifer Coolidge basically just made up her own script as she went... but it's just one of those stupid funny movies that I love to watch whenever I'm feeling down. Yes, I'll put this request in on YouTube, as well 😊. Thanks for another great video!

SaucyJTD

I helped with a kids production of Rogers & Hammerstein Cinderella. Our Step-Mother was so great! Cinderlla & the prince were waltzing. When the prince was facing the Step-Mother's direction she would simper & smile, then as soon as he was turned away she would glower. We didn't tell her to do that. She was in 6th or 7th grade! It's normally so hard just to get kids not to zone out between their lines

Julia

Yes! I have a whole teaser running in my brain already of what it looks like. It's sunset over the prairie, he's older, standing his ground, sad but resigned to what's coming and what he must do. You hear something coming, camera zooms in slowly on his face cast down to the ground, trouble's getting closer, music swells, and just his eyes look up. Go forth, movie gods, and grant us our wish! 😆

Melissa

Jono here. He would CRUSH it in a Western. Strong and mostly silent, like a young Clint Eastwood.

Cinema Therapy

Re: Drew Barrymore/Keanu Reeves comparison ... do you feel Keanu Reeves has range in The Gift? Maybe I was just happy to finally see him play the villain. I said it before, I'll say it again ... Can someone please cast him in a western?! :)

Melissa

Adding to the rotoscoping chat for Cinderella 1950: lots of shows still use this to great effect! The anime bromance "Kids on the Slope" uses it to capture accurate musician's movements since the main characters are all burgeoning jazz artist in the 1960's (also a great show to discuss for masculine friendships dynamics :D)

Tim Durning

Yes, yes to that!

imarynik

I will say that I do enjoy interpretations of the Prince where he's just. Really face blind. (alternately where the magic from the fairy godmother shrouded her identity, but I think the face blindness is more fun.) Admittedly you mostly only see that on like. Tumblr. But I think it should be a more common take!

Magnus Taliesin

What I love about the Cinderella remake is it refrains the story from "I don't know who you but the slipper fits" to "I know who you are but you don't have to be the person this slipper fits" and it feels like they meet on equal footing, despite Kit being a prince with all the power.

Demi

I got the book crazy rich Asians when the movie first came out in theaters back then :)

Rena nice

I love the idea of a wicked step mother movie with the actresses from these films!!! That would be awesome 😂😂😂

Emily

Randomly, he said Kit because she thought he was an apprentice and he's a "King In Training", haha. It's a silly joke, but it fits in a Disney movie.

Janet Michelle

Ever After will forever be my fav Cinderella! And yes the scene at the Monastery was perfect to show Henry accepting influence, and that was an influence that she never intended to give out or preach, she just couldn't help herself. Also that same day after understanding the influence she's had on him on the Monastery and after meeting the gypsies and saving the prince by carrying him really have an impact on her and make her realize her own power, which in turn allows her to stand up to her stepmother and stepsister, something she had never done before. Also I might add, punching Margarite is one of the most satisfying moments in a Cinderella movie ever. I love the Lily James and the Disney 2015 adaptation.... however Ever After is a superior story in my mind. Back when I watched it, I was a kid and it made me feel comfortable for not being such a girly girl, for being a nerd and for speaking out for myself.

Kate Ackerley

Oh wow, that's crazy 😃

Raika

Omg !! I know this film ! I'm french and I saw it on TV when I was a child. I loved it and I've never forgotten it. I managed to find it in digital later on. I agree, the relation between Cinderella and the the prince is really great in this film.

Meilin

I was going to say the same thing. CRA is so much more about the cultural dynamics than a Cinderella trope.

Janese Carstens

Love this perspective and glad you shared. You're among friends of passionate nerds!

Cinema Therapy

Oh that's cool, thanks for sharing!

Cinema Therapy

note about the Singapore Sling. It's mainly a tourist thing. Most of us Singaporeans don't drink it at all. hahaha.

Deborah Li

Loved this Episode as always 🩷 the Re-imagined cinderella is my favorite. Have yet to watch crazy rich asians. Definitely adding it to the list. as we are at the some what Disney topic 😄 have you ever thought about making an Episode on the Disney movie Clouds? I love this movie so much and there is so much about loss & grief which I think is really good. It's one for the heart 🩷 and one in need for extra tissues 🥲🩷

Veronika Gschwandtner

Okay, obviously this isn't a thing in other parts of the world but in Germany there would be no Cinderella Ranking without "Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel" (Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella)! It's a CSSR-East-Germany Production from the 70's and it definitely would be in the healthy-top-three of the Ranking. Great female lead, a real relationship between Prince and Cinderella that goes deeper than just dancing and a lovely soundtrack. I don't know why but it's a Christmas Classic in Germany. Highly recommended!

Raika

This is coming from someone who really loves Ever After buuuuut y’all chose the wrong clips! The scene where she quotes Thomas Moore’s UTOPIA to him and he’s actually stunned and considers her point. Or the scene at the Monastery where Henry expressed admiration of Danielle’s passion and how apathetic he’s been living his life and she inspires him! Jono’s hypothesis is right but there are better clips to drive this point home. So sorry I love you all and the work you do this is just me being an intense romantic dork about this movie.

Elizabeth Hunter

Guys, guys - just because someone isn't working in Hollywood doesn't mean they're not working; Dougray (pronounced Dooogray not Dugray, btw) is happily based in the UK working his wee socks off, check his IMDB credits! I'm going to have to disagree with you regarding his attractiveness too, but then he's a Scot and I'm partial to the menfolk from my home country. (Here's looking at you too, Richard Madden😘) I'm with you on Henry Golding or Rege-Jean Page (and that's a hard g in Rege, btw - I'm here for all your British actor pronunciation needs) for the next Bond but I have to give the edge to Rege-Jean, he can carry off the mean-streak that Bond needs alongside the charm. If you ever dip your toe into the Cinderella pond again, may I recommend The Glass Slipper (1955) with Leslie Caron & Michael Wilding, it's quite lovely.

Eclectic Mayhem

It's a more sneaky Cinderella adaptation. Enjoy the rewatch!

Cinema Therapy

The thing about Cinderella is that I don't think you're supposed to really focus on the romance and more on the willpower of a person to be kind in the face of abuse and manifest her own means of escaping her situation. I highly recommend watching the video on Cinderella from "The Take" on Youtube for a very nuanced viewpoint of the original Disney film and the story in general.

Michael Emerson

I grew up with Brandy as Cinderella and as a kid she was my favorite. I think def agree with these top 3 though! Literally laughed so hard at the look of utter disgust after Jono said "lets get our duff on" 🤣💀

B

I know it was simply a Cinderella story, but damn I enjoyed An Offer From A Gentleman.

Kristina Armstrong

Im reading Benedict’s story rn from Bridgerton. This feels kismet 😭😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣

Bobby Burns

I am a huge fan of all versions of Cinderella. Seriously if you want to sell me something just put Cinderella in the title. That's how I came to own Cinderella Man...but I digress. And while I love both Disney Cinderella's, and Roger and Hammerstein's version (the step mother and sisters are delightful in this one). Ever After and Crazy Rich Asians have better development in the characters. If anyone is looking for a more off beat Cinderella I highly recommend Cinderfella with Jerry Lewis (although the princess in this case could use more development). And my hands down favorite is Ella Enchanted. But you have to read the book, because the movie is just Shrek meets Ever After, which is a shame.

Iva Burkitt

Any excuse to watch Crazy Rich Asians is a good one, never thought about it through a Cinderella lens so I guess that’s what I’m watching tonight.

Andrew Feistner

Your kids must love when you read them stories "Then Goldilocks saw three bowls of porridge." "Of course you know that bears can't cook, never mind that they live in caves and can't build homes." 😁 It is possible to meet someone and know that they are the one - it's not the usual way, but it does and can happen. I'll argue this with you every time.

Deb Kunkel

Thank you! I enjoy Lily James work as an actress. But that one was hard Okay on the fem power front. Drew Barrymore rescued Henry from bandits by carrying him away like a boss. And she sword fights. I love her so much! That's my personal favorite Cinderella.

Tiana Horsey-Daydreamer

Yes! I really liked the book

Lauren Wagstaff

Agreed. CRA isn’t a Cinderella story to me either.

Lauren Wagstaff

This was a great episode. The book that crazy rich Asians is based on goes a lot more into the culture and the hierarchy of their Asian culture. In the book, you actually almost feel bad for the mil because of the culture that she grew up in and how important tradition is for her, and you start to see why her fiancé lied for so long. Great episode!! Also, for some reason this reminded me of Adrian and rocky in the rocky movies. I’d love to see psychology of a hero or something for rocky balboa.

Betty White

I never considered Crazy Rich Asians to be a cinderella-esc movie. Overall, loved the insight, and Ever After will always be my favorite Cinderella movie!

Shawna Keyes

My favorite Cinderella movie is the 2015 one! Its absolutely beautiful and so well done

Opal Evergreen

🎶so this is lust mhhmhmm🎶

Amelia Hansen

I also highly reccomend Ella Enchanted for interrupted kisses but with a statisfying end!

Fell Hawke

I said to another user here on Patreon that I didn’t mind Drew Barrymore’s accent because her character was so great. Same with Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins, TERRIBLE cockney accent, but he was just so likable and charming. For me, as far as the character is concerned, Barrymore is above Lily James’ Cinderella. I liked her just fine, but it kind of bugged me that she was hailed as the stronger Cinderella in Disney when she literally just spun around the tower when her stepmother locked her in. Like “oh well, I’m locked in, she’ll probably keep me locked in here for days until laundry must be cleaned, but at least I’ll have my memories of dancing with Kit.” I get what they were trying to do and that she was sacrificing her freedom for his sake, but the fact remains that the 1950 Cinderella pounded on the door, she called out for help, she got her animal friends to help her get out and she was the one who proved who she was by showing the other glass slipper to the Grand Duke. 2015’s Cinderella escaped because the mice pushed the window open and everyone heard her singing, there was no effort on her part.

Wayward Ace

Oh yes! I'm excited! 😁

Yani Dodge


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