Cinderella, the all-too-wholesome and therefore dull Superman of heroines, is generally not a favourite of little girls. She’s not plucky like Ariel, smart like Belle, or strong like Mulan. Instead, as Kenneth Branagh’s all-too-faithful live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1950 animated tale repeatedly reminds us, Cinderella (a winningly sweet Lily James) has only one life philosophy: “Have courage and be kind.”
Except, she’s pretty lacking in the courage department, passively accepting the cruelty of her stepmother (Cate Blanchett, glowering like a French madam and bizarrely laughing like a maniacal John Goodman), and chatting with her personality-free CGI rodent friends. And kindness doesn’t eradicate some shallow attraction, as she falls for the first boy she ever lays eyes upon (Game Of Thrones’ Richard Madden, suitably handsome), who just happens to be a Prince. If only Tinder was so kind.  
Though updating fairytales for contemporary audiences is now standard Hollywood practice, Branagh retains the spirit and character of the original Cinders, which – to his credit – proves endearing rather than grating. Great attention is lavished upon swoon-inducing details, such as the enchantingly swirly transformation sequences, and the stunning costumes that are part Jazz Age, part Hollywood Golden Era, and part Claire’s Accessories – just as little girls like it. Personally, I think the perspex slippers look a little too much like they belong to a stripper named Butterfly to be truly enchanting, but hey, maybe that’s en vogue among the Bratz generation.
Unfortunately, Branagh has neglected to include either the songs or the mischievous animal interludes from the original movie, which were among its standout moments. Without them, all that’s left to fall back on for laughs or impact is Helena Bonham Carter’s ditzy Real Housewife of a “fairy dogfather” – and even she looks like she’s waiting for the other glass slipper to drop.