Damsel
Damsel is streaming on Netflix at the time of writing. Rated PG-13. Common Sense says 14.
STORY: C-
The story often feels like it cares more about the destination than the journey.
The dutiful daughter of a king, Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown), lives in a virtual wasteland. In order to save her kingdom, she agrees to marry a prince from a far off kingdom. The match does not go as planned, and she soon finds herself fighting for survival after discovering a dark, dark secret.
THE SCOOP: Check out Damsel’s IMDb page, here.
PEOPLE: B
Millie Bobby Brown holds her own against a cast of top name, veteran talent.
Dragons are dangerous, but Brown (who is also an executive producer on the film) could just as easily have been chewed up and spit out by the experienced, outstanding supporting cast: Robin Wright, Ray Winstone, and Angela Bassett.
She doesn’t. She survives, and any success the film has will largely be as a result of that fact.
CAST PARTY: Check out DC Film Girl’s interview with Millie Bobby Brown, here. (8 mins.)
FILM NERD STUFF: C-
The movie’s editing shows that the film prioritizes action over drama.
The cuts come quickly early in the film, spitting out bits of exposition in short, quick bursts. You can almost feel the crew grabbing their equipment and sprinting to the next scene’s set up each time a character says something useful.
The breakneck pace clearly announces the movie’s motto: Information is necessary, but not valued. I’m not sure cutting out the story’s depth does anything to amp up its action vibe. The film would have been better if it made us feel that the story mattered as much as CGI dragons.
KEEP GOING, GIRL! (Elective Class): B+
Millie Bobby Brown is positioning herself as the “Girl Power-Girl” of this next generation.
After the two Enola Holmes movies, this film marks Brown’s third credit as a producer (she’s got a fourth currently in pre-production). Female empowerment is the common thread of these films and nearly every project she’s ever done.
It’s an incredible career for anyone, let alone a person who’s not even old enough to order a gin and tonic. Her youth is a big part of her power. She may not have been fighting for gender equality as long as most. But she’s the one young girls (and boys) are watching, not Jane Fonda.
I’m sure Brown is loving the attention and rewards her career has provided her. And good. She should be. I’m glad she’s choosing projects that will enrich the world as well.
THE BIG PICTURE: Millie Bobby Brown talks about why she made this film, here. (2 mins.)
FINAL COMMENTS:
Brown is an established fantasy and action actress, but she’s never been asked to carry a film that requires such physicality. She’s not Lara Croft yet (I’ve no idea if she wants to be or not), but nothing Brown does here would cause a producer to strike her name from their list.
But if the film is successful enough, and she would like to take a crack at the inevitable Lara Croft reboot one day, Brown may not need to convince anyone but herself that she’s perfect for the role.