Cinderella III: A Twist in Time

Through this review I will endeavor to explain why this is the best Disney direct-to-video sequel. Most of these sequels were made as mere cash grabs and add no necessary backstory nor do they introduce interesting or memorable characters. This sequel, however, breaks all of those conventions. The original Cinderella is timeless and one of my all-time favorite Disney films. However, I admit that it did not have the most compelling characters (due, in part, to the technical limitations at the time) and left some questions unanswered. This sequel endeavors to fill in some of those plot holes and adds much needed characterization through a compelling and unique narrative. Soon after Cinderella was married to the Prince Anastasia, one of her stepsisters, happens to spot the Fairy Godmother and steals her wand. This gives her mother the idea to use magic to make it so Anastasia is the one whose feet fit the slipper, the one who danced with the prince, not Cinderella, so she is set up to marry the Prince instead. The Prince is also put under a spell to love Anastasia. Because of this Cinderella devises a plan to infiltrate the palace and get the prince to remember and fall back in love with her. This is a delightfully convoluted story that somehow works. My favorite part is that the Prince has much more agency in this film, becoming a true protagonist in his own right. It is refreshing to see him question following birds and listening to mice and how this would be confusing, bordering on crazy for any normal person (sans Disney Princess). He takes these animal appearances (and musical numbers!) in stride, as they confirm his already growing suspicions that something is not quite right. Even under a spell, he feels he connection he has to Cinderella. The King, for his part, finds this whole mess crazy. He said he would abide by allowing his son to marry the girl who fit the glass slipper but is concerned for his son’s sanity when he talks about talking mice telling him he made a mistake. These little touches make A Twist in Time simultaneously one of the most grounded and oddball Disney pictures ever released. It is also filled with some excellent new songs which help move the narrative along in a delightful way. Of course, true love breaks the curse and not even the fairy Godmother’s magic can stop destiny but the journey to get there is so wonderful, mad, and exciting that I enjoyed every second of it. The prince is an actually fleshed out character and Cinderella, for her part, refuses to give up on her romance (and is given a great action sequence near the film’s conclusion); it was more than just a dance- it was love at first sight (and, for a hopeless romantic like me this is a satisfactory conclusion). Cinderella III: A Twist in Time is a fantastic companion to the original film, fleshing out characters, giving the prince the expanded role he was robbed of in the first film, and giving Anastasia a redemptive arch (This film chronologically takes place before the events of Cinderella II: Dreams Come True but seems to play fast and loose with what parts of that film are taken into account) I cannot recommend this film enough, particularly to those left with burning questions from the original film. This sequel is what all Disney sequels should be like, expanding upon the lore without adding superfluous characters like children who are clones of their parents or obligatory love interests.

Final Rating: 9/10