Three Wishes for Cinderella
Fabled fairy tale done Scandi-style
Photo: Lars Hellebust / presse NTB kultur
Astrid Smeplass, known as Astrid S in the musical world, plays a Norwegian Cinderella in the English-language release of Tre nøtter til Askepott, Three Wishes for Cinderella, now streaming on Amazon Prime.
JOHN SMISTAD
Olympia, Wash.
Synopsis: When beautiful peasant girl Cinderella meets the dashing prince in the snow-covered woods, it is sparks from the start between these two. Alas, the dashing royal is expected to find a suitable bride at the fast-approaching royal ball. Equipped with three magical acorns, Cinderella decides to determine her own destiny.
The wait is finally over. After a smash premiere in Norway last Christmas season, the new Norwegian remake of the classic Tre nøtter til Askepott has been released for North American audiences as Three Wishes for Cinderella.
Three Wishes for Cinderella is the quintessential example of a film that is fun for the whole family. This includes us adults, who will find much of the modern day banter between these classic characters from long, long ago both consistently clever and flat-out funny.
Popular and preposterously pretty, Norwegian singer/songwriter Astrid S (for Smeplass) establishes herself as an entertainment double-treat here, showing that she is not only a gifted musician but a fine actor as well. Depending upon what is called for in the scene, Smeplass pulls off the romantic, dramatic, comedic, fantastic, and physical with equal pluck, aplomb, and dexterity.
Oh, and she talks to the animals, too, a la one distinguished Dr. Doolittle.
Man, is there anything this laudable lass can’t do?
Smeplass’ chemistry with Cengiz Al as her rakish royal paramour is as sweet as it is genuine. Even though we all know this time-honored tale so well, odds are you’ll still find yourself rooting with all your heart for the inevitable.
If you don’t, you may wanna check to make sure that the ol’ ticker’s still tickin’ there, min venn.
Toss into this enchanting mix a cream-of-the-crop cast consisting of veteran pros like Ellen Dorrit Petersen as the (waaay) wicked stepmother, Bjørn Sundquist as Cinderella’s friend indeed and in need, and a spirited cameo by the ever-versatile Kristofer Hivju and you have a veritable flick feast fit for a king and queen.
Let’s make that a king and queen in waiting and deeply in love.
Three Wishes for Cinderella is available to rent and buy now on Amazon Prime Video.
This article originally appeared in the December 2, 2022, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
