Once Upon a Mattress

Filmmaker Kathleen Marshall's Once Upon a Mattress is one fractured fairytale. Based on Broadway's classic 1959 musical (inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Princess and the Pea), this made-for-TV update stars Carol Burnett as Queen Aggravain, who decrees that no one in the kingdom can marry until her son Prince Dauntless (Denis O'Hare) finds a wife—who must pass the Queen's impossible tests. Unhappy news for the prince, who wants to join the ranks of connubial bliss, this is really bad news for Lady Larken (Zooney Deschanel) and Sir Harry (Matthew Morrison) who need to get married…now. Enter Princess Winnifred, played by Burnett's heir-in-humor Tracey Ullman, who must jump through hoops, pass some wicked tests, and endure a couple of very bad nights' sleep to win the Prince. The songs are silly, the colors are bright, and the mischief is merry in this tale of men rendered ineffective by maternal meddling, and women inspired by love. Recommended, [Note: DVD extras include behind-the-scenes footage, a “making-of” featurette, and an intriguing side-by-side look at rehearsals and finished scenes from the film. Bottom line: a small but solid extras package for a fun made-for-TV film.] (M. Johanson)