"Penelope" may be slight and seen-before in some ways, but its sunny charm mixed with clever doses of dark comedy make it seem fresh.

Christina Ricci plays the title character, a young woman whose wealthy family was cursed by a witch generations ago, the curse leading ultimately to Penelope arriving at birth with the nose of a pig. The round snout, the nostrils, the works.

This situation mortifies Penelope's class-conscious mother, who hides her daughter away in the deep recesses of the mansion. When Penelope comes of marrying age, Mom, played with over-the-top mustard by the always funny Catherine O'Hara, sets up secret meetings with dozens of eligible suitors, each of whom jumps out a window when confronted by the perfectly pleasant Penelope, so horrified are they by her pigly protrusion.

Then, one day (to employ fairy-tale language), Penelope is visited by a slightly suspect character with a sort of rogue charm, and the two immediately connect and bond over literature and other matters.

Problem is, Max, played by James McAvoy, doesn't see Penelope during this encounter, as she is hidden away. The chemistry is there but the visual meeting is not.

The film's subplot kicks in, with a persistent tabloid reporter (Peter Dinklage) and a money-grubbing cad teaming to expose Penelope, the confident but distressed young woman fleeing her home and facing the real world for the first time. A series of comic scenarios and mishaps bring her closer to her meant-to-be true love.

"Penelope" is a quirky and mostly buoyant little film, long on colorful set design and whimsical aura, touching on numerous classic literature themes of love, identity and self-worth.

The film benefits from Ricci's presence, as she brings the same kind of intelligence to the role she's shown since she was a child actor. Her chemistry with McAvoy is evident, and we will also get a spunky, extended-cameo appearance from Reese Witherspoon, who produced the film and helped it find a way to release.

"Penelope" is a kid-friendly film with good messages about accepting yourself for who you are. It enjoys comic bounce, easily able to charm older crowds. You may sense in it some borrowed themes, from Cyrano de Bergerac on, but no matter, the film's originality is apparent. It's a winner by more than a nose.

B+

"Penelope"

Starring: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara, Reese Witherspoon

Director: Mark Palasky

Studio: Summit Entertainment Releasing

Rated: PG (for thematic elements, innuendo and language)

RT: 89 minutes