Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother, Gus Gus and Jaq are back for the straight-to-video sequel to the 1950 animated classic, “Cinderella II: Dreams Come True.” This sequel takes a different narrative tact than the original “Cinderella.” In this film, the Fairy Godmother and the mice are working together to create a book for Cinderella. It features three individual stories tied together to make a feature length film. In the end, the three stories are made into a book and the mice rush it to Cinderella, so she can read it.

The first story features Cinderella and Prince Charming returning from their honeymoon. They expect to spend time together at newlyweds, but the King wants Prince Charming to accompany him on important affairs of state while Cinderella stays home to prepare the latest party. Cinderella has some run-ins with the party planner and her ladies in waiting until she decides rather than do things the traditional way, she’d rather do things her way. That leads to a fun party that may be different but still makes the king very happy. Admittedly, I thought this was going to be the whole film, so I was shocked when it wrapped up about 25 minutes into a 90 minute film. Honestly, I think that being fleshed out and told properly would’ve made a better sequel to “Cinderella” than this.

The second story features Jaq feeling left out. He wants to spend time with Cinderella but keeps missing out on the fun. He wishes to be big, so the Fairy Godmother makes him human. He gets to spend time with Cinderella, who thinks he’s a guest named Sir Hugh, but, he keeps getting into impossible situations because the Prince’s cat, Pom Pom, knows he’s really a mouse and wants to eat him. Eventually, Jaq returns to being a mouse and stops a rampaging elephant, because elephants are afraid of mice. It’s a cute story and would make a nice “Cinderella” short, but I understand why it’s just one story in a three story narrative. This one really can’t be fleshed out into a full feature.

The final story features a reunion between Cinderella and her step-family. Her evil stepsister, Anastasia, has fallen in love with the town baker and is now trying to be nice. She seems to be the new bane of her mother’s existence who is now taking things out on Anastasia the same way she used to take things out on Cinderella. Cinderella steps up and shows great character, helping Anastasia and the baker to fall in love and helping Anastasia stand up to her mother. This is another story, that if fleshed out, could be a full length sequel. Again, this is a story that would’ve done better on its own, if given time to breathe, than it did in this storybook format.

This film took the package film format the Walt Disney Animation Studios had used during the Wartime Era and turned it on its head. It’s not a true package film, but this Disneytoon Studios production has the elements of a package film tied together by the thread of making a storybook for Cinderella. It’s really similar to “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh,” but it’s not as good. It’s a cute film. It’s what you would expect from a straight-to-video release in the early 2000s. It’s just kind of there though. I know this isn’t targeting a man in his late 30s, but I don’t think either of my boys would’ve wanted to watch this. It was probably a hit with young girls though, and, if so, then it served its purpose.

Rating: 2.5 stars

What did you think of “Cinderella II: Dreams Come True?”

Jeremy Brown

Jeremy has been a big Disney fan since he was a kid growing up during the Disney Renaissance. One day he hopes to go to every Disney Park in the world.

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