Christina Ricci is back in Tim Burton territory with Penelope, a modern fable about a girl with a pig’s nose. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have Burton with her. Written by television veteran Leslie Caveny and directed by first-timer Mark Palansky, Penelope has the right heart and soul. Yet it never quite conjures up the elusive magic needed for these sorts of flights of fancy. It’s as if someone forgot to sprinkle fairy dust on it. With James McAvoy and a very funny (and also producing) Reese Witherspoon in supporting parts.
