Sometimes it’s nice to walk into another annual remake of a classic Disney princess story and be pleasantly surprised. You can’t argue with the brand, which is now stronger than ever, but one must have to think eventually that some terrible writer is going to conjure up something so emotionless, the studio would like to forget it existed. Kenneth Branagh’s beautiful rendition of Cinderella is not it.

Fairy-tales have been workshopped for centuries, and I’m sure through the creative process (once the juices get flowing) some of the more intrepid pieces are often forgotten to a lesser extent. The point of any fairy-tale, especially of this caliber, is to arrive safely at the happily ever after, and, well (spoiler alert), this movie is no different. Cinderella has a cruel stepmother (played ever so vicious by Cate Blanchett), two ugly stepsisters, and those furry little mice she calls her friends. All of this remains in tact – she meets a prince (Richard Madden), they fall in love, she has a fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter), and she still has the curfew to be home before midnight.

We all know the events as they are unfolding; it’s just a matter of how we get there. Lily James is inspiring to watch as the titular character, strutting around in her gorgeous blue dress that looks as though it would be rather ‘difficult’ to slip into on a daily basis. The film has all the CGI cinematics you would expect from an updated adaptation, fresh with pumpkins turning into carriages, lizards turning into people, and mice turning into horses. This transformation sequence is easily the best that has ever been done and (I’m afraid) is probably not the last.

The cast, directed by Branagh (Thor), are well-equipped to handle some of the more sly humor and add a nice touch of emotional depth to the script. Much of the cast is made up of very familiar faces from well-known fare, such as Pride & Prejudice, Game Of Thrones, and Downton Abbey, a true delight for those fans, while most youngsters are likely purchasing a ticket to see the Frozen Fever short that is attached before the film.

I can’t say how an updated version of Disney’s most prominent princess benefits the audience that embraces it. The movie is gorgeous to look at, with a sense that children can watch this film and understand life is unexpected. Or maybe it’s setting up unrealistic expectations for marriage?

Only joking.

Sometimes, movies just need to do what they are supposed to do, and Cinderella does just that. That’s completely fine by me. Grade: B+