Happily Ever After (film)
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| Happily Ever After | |
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 Release poster |
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| Directed by | John Howley |
| Produced by | Lou Scheimer |
| Written by | Robby London Martha Moran |
| Starring | Edward Asner Irene Cara Carol Channing Dom DeLuise Phyllis Diller |
| Music by | Frank Becker |
| Editing by | Joe Gall Jeffrey C. Patch |
| Release date(s) | May 28, 1993 (USA) |
| Running time | 75 min |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Happily Ever After is the name of an animated film created by Filmation in 1988 and released to theaters 5 years later, in 1993, by First National.[citation needed] The story is an unofficial sequel to the Snow White fairy tale. Aside from Snow White herself and the prince she falls in love with, all of the characters in Happily Ever After are unique to this film.
Filmation had previously developed a plan to create a series of direct-to-video sequels to popular Disney motion pictures, but only this film and 1987's Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night were ever completed.[citation needed]
The film was released during the same summer that Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was re-released theatrically.
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[edit] Plot
Happily Ever After was a sequel to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, taking place where that film left off. The wicked Lord Maliss — brother of Snow White's dead Queen stepmother — attempts to exact revenge on Snow White and her Prince. When the Prince is kidnapped, Snow White flees to the cottage of the Seven Dwarfs, only to find their female cousins, the Seven "Dwarfelles", occupying the area. Together with the Dwarfelles, Snow White fights against Lord Maliss, who has the special ability to mutate into a dragon-like creature.
[edit] Cast
Happily Ever After featured an all-star cast: Irene Cara as Snow White, Edward Asner as Scowl the Owl, Carol Channing as Muddy, Dom DeLuise as the Looking Glass, Phyllis Diller as Mother Nature, Zsa Zsa Gabor as Blossom, Linda Gary as Critterina & Marina, Jonathan Harris as Sunflower, Sally Kellerman as Sunburn, Michael Horton as the Prince, Tracey Ullman as Moonbeam and Thunderella, Malcolm McDowell as Lord Maliss, and Frank Welker as Batso.
[edit] Character Powers
Many characters in the film each possess a unique power or ability. Muddy has power over the earth, and as such performs such tricks as causing minor tremors and minute earthquakes. Sunburn has power over sunlight, and is able to focus sun rays in any area and to whatever extremity she so wishes. She uses her power in the film to clear away clouds and summon down a beam of light to illuminate a dark cave. Marina has power over all lakes and rivers, but the only example of her powers in the film is being able to breathe under water. Blossom has power over plants and flowers, and is seen throughout the animation zapping the ground and having flowers spring up. Depending on the location, her powers may become less effective. Critterina has power of all animals who are created by Mother Nature. She is able to communicate with all animals, regardless of their creators, but does not have control over animals whom are not mother nature's handiwork. Moonbeam is never seen using her powers, but has the distinct characteristic of being in a deep slumber in the day, and only awaking at night. Thunderella is the seventh dwarfella, and is branded as the 'black sheep' of the seven. She has power over weather, and always seems to mess her attempts at creating storms up somehow. She ends up saving the day by hitting Lord Maliss with a bolt of lightning she creates from her fingertip.
Mother Nature is the most powerful force of good in this movie, having complete control over nature, as well as the ability to create creatures from potions she makes in her sanctuary. Upon Lord Maliss' attack on Snow White who is with the seven dwarfelles in Mother Nature's garden, Mother Nature surrounds her corporeal self with massive amounts of electrical energy, and blasts Lord Maliss out of the air. She then creates a divide in the land with a flick of her hand so he can not get to them. She is then seen in the end magically transporting herself to Lord Maliss's castle.
Lord Maliss is the powerful evil sorcerer in the film. He has several powers, all of which are of dark origin and have detrimental effects on their victims. His trademark power is the ability to transform himself into a large, blood red dragon/gargoyle creature which is immensely strong, fast and can breathe fire. This is his main form of transportation, as well as his way of capturing Snow White and the prince. He also has powerful optical blasts, which stun and partially paralyze his victims. Short sharp blasts of this power knock his victims to the ground, whilst extended exposure (from his eyes to the victims) causes death. He also has crippling spells and enchantments, which is discovered at the end of the film, when it is revealed Lord Maliss transformed The Prince into a tiny and feeble man. He is also able to shape-shift, taking on the form of whomever he chooses. He uses this power to tricks Snow White into following him to his outside area where he keeps his many defeated enemies and punished servants. His last power emanates from his magical red cloak. Any living being that is unfortunate enough to find itself under the cloak is transformed into a stone statue. The only way to reverse this transformation is to destroy Lord Maliss and the cloak.
Lord Maliss is eventually defeated, when Snow White (with the helpful distraction from Thunderella) is able to throw the red cape on top of him. His death is somewhat confusing, for as soon as he is trapped under the cape, a massive thunderstorm is created. Lord Maliss is then forcibly transformed into his dragon state, and then hit with several bolts of lightening, stunning him. Lastly his head transforms back into its human state, and he becomes complete stone. The most logical assumption is that the combination of Thunderella's small static shock as a distraction and Lord Maliss being killed by his own dark magic somehow created a magical struggle in the atmosphere surrounding the battle, culminating in strange side effects.
[edit] Response
Critics generally disliked the film, arguing that the plot and "badly drawn," "clumsy" animation were amateurish and forgettable. They questioned whether the film was technically an official sequel to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or not.[1] In last-minute attempts to save the film, Filmation tried to popularize it by creating and selling Seven Dwarfelle dolls; it also gained a commercial tie-in with Chiquita bananas.[citation needed] But ultimately, Happily Ever After was poorly received by critics and the box office, with a domestic gross of only $3,299,382.[2] Shortly thereafter, Filmation Studios declared bankruptcy and closed its doors forever.[citation needed]
