Annie (PG) | Home Entertainment Review

The heart-warming tale of Annie, a young orphan girl living in a New York children’s home has been around for many years. It was originally a comic strip, then a hit musical back in 1977 followed by several movie adaptations. This year however, the tale of rags to riches has been reinvented for a new generation of viewers.

The movie opens in a school where the students are giving presentations. There is one child who resembles the classic appearance of Annie with bright orange hair and then we are introduced to the new Annie (Wallis), a young girl abandoned by her parents with the promise they’d be back for her, living in a foster home run by Miss Hannigan (Diaz). For a child that has been through the experiences she has, it is surprising Annie is such a happy-go-lucky individual. When she bumps (literally) into New York City billionaire Will Stacks (Foxx) as he is campaigning for mayor, life as she knows it changes quite dramatically for this young girl.

While the movie is rooted in the same back story, Annie left alone in the world by her parents, this is a contemporary take on what happens next. Changes to the classic tale include: the leading male figure being William Stacks, an entrepreneur in the technology sector turned politician; Annie is now in foster care waiting for her parents to return rather than in an orphanage and Hannigan’s character has been altered slightly too.

The actors portraying these characters work incredibly well together, notably Foxx and Wallis. From the outset Will Stacks is a man trying to be a people person for publicity but in all fact is a germaphobe intent on getting whatever he wants however he can. As he is introduced to Annie she certainly makes a positive impact on his life and his personality. Wallis is an incredible actress for someone so young and gives her role everything she has, leaving the viewer really feeling for her character.

This new updated version of Annie not only brings a new vibe to the story but to the songs as well. There are some fan favourites which have been given a twist as well as some new tunes to sink your teeth into; the two most iconic tracks, “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard Knock Life” will have you singing along.

Annie is a fun family film that everyone can enjoy, whether you are familiar with the story or not. If the movie wasn’t enough, the bonus features on the DVD will also entertain you with a behind-the-scenes looks at the making of the film, sing-a-long tracks, bloopers and much more.

Review by Michelle Moore

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Annie is out now on Blu-ray and DVD and Digital HD