Cinderella has been the inspiration for many modern retellings over the years. However, Hilary Duff’s 2004 iteration may have been one of the best re-imaginings of the story. Leaving behind kingdoms, towers, and fairy godmothers, A Cinderella Story creates a version where the kingdom is high school, but the evil stepmother is still very much wicked. Sam tragically loses her father in an Earthquake, leaving her to be raised by Fiona. The latter only wishes to see her daughters succeed and is happy to have Sam exist only within the walls of the family-owned diner.

However, although it may not be a flashy movie, it grounds itself in relatability. Sam desperately wants to escape a life where she lives with her stepmother and stepsisters and where the feelings of hatred are mutual. She wants to attend Princeton, the last college she ever discussed with her father. But, her central goal gets a surprise when she finds the mysterious person on the other side of her cyberspace conversations is Austin Ames, the school football team’s quarterback. Austin is not just a pretty face either, as he is given goals, dreams, and complexity beyond being good at sports.

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Sam’s Dedication to Leaving

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Although every iteration of the character is more than ready to escape their evil stepmother, Sam Montgomery is already moving toward that goal from the beginning. She is prepared to leave high school early and move on to Princeton, away from the treatment she receives at home and how Fiona treats Sam as a diner employee.

While most of the movie is a love story, showing the connection between Sam and Austin, the film never falters by suggesting that Austin is the answer to Sam’s problems. Sam works hard to achieve what it means to leave her home behind, even taking steps to move out of the house by declaring she is moving out before having a real plan. Luckily, Rhonda, ever the supporter, steps up to offer Sam a home. While Sam’s budding romance with Austin is a part of the story, it is not the key to Sam’s happiness, even if it is a part of it.

Austin’s Struggle Toward His Future

Austin wants a life of his own, not one that his father planned. That wish meant separating himself from football and a potential future at his father’s car wash. Instead, his dreams include writing and attending Princeton. Giving him interests outside of the main thing he is good at allows him to feel more fleshed out. However, it also creates internal conflict as no one closest to Austin can see he wants to spread his wings and look for different life opportunities in his future.

In Another Cinderella Story, Austin’s counterpart is the pop star, Joey Parker. Known for his singing and dancing, Joey is very successful in his field. However, with so much success, he may have lost sight of the original reason he loved to sing and dance so much in the first place. Joey’s connection with Mary is through music and dance, but Joey hardly gets to be involved in anything outside his profession.

Sam Has a Solid Adult in Her Life

While Fiona is awful, Sam has Rhonda to go to as a solid adult figure. While the rest of the diner’s employees care for Sam, Rhonda is the leading adult in Sam’s life. She looks out for Sam and helps her in ways Fiona has failed her. Rhonda is a strong character, and the moment Rhonda declares Sam will move in with her helps further portray the essential bond between them. Sam has people on her side, even if it does not always seem like it. Rhonda is not just an ally to Sam or a friend. Rhonda feels like family to Sam, unlike other adults in Cinderella’s modern retellings.

It’s the Most Relatable Story

2004’s A Cinderella Story is the only one to be about high school’s average trials and tribulations. Wishing for a better future, thinking about college, and potential romantic connections are at the forefront of the movie. Sam deals with bullying in her home and at school from those who laugh at her for her job at the diner. Her plans to escape her house come from her dedication to school and hard work; however, she is not considered a teenage genius. Nor does she hold a remarkable skill set. Sam comes across as a more average girl, a person anyone could relate to, given how the movie does not give her a specific talent to focus on.

Austin’s character works similarly. He is intelligent and talented at football. He may be a good fit for a football scholarship, but he is never considered overly important in town. The school loves him for his talent and popularity, and his father places his dreams for Austin on a pedestal. But Austin is not considered a big deal, and even his father’s car wash is not the most important place in town. In other films, the stories surround dancing, music, or acting interests and focus on characters with immense talents or professions in those fields. While the emotional journeys may be more grounded, the success or focus in those industries may not be as relatable.