History YMMV / ACinderellaStory

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The main gimmick - that Austin and Sam only know each other anonymously through internet chat rooms - firmly roots the movie to the 2000s. Their cell phones are also the now-outdated flip phones of the time. Additionally, social media doesn't play any part in the story, and it would have factored into the plot had the movie been made even five years later. The lack of attention paid to the bullying at school roots the movie to the 2000s as well. Astrid is also dressed in the typical early 2000s PopPunk style. It’s basically your typical 2000s high school comedy with a fairytale-type plot.

* IdiotPlot:
** It's safe to say that if Austin had broken up with Shelby a long time ago, rather than the night of an important dance, she would at least have not focused all her fury on Sam when finding out from her stepsisters about what happened. Sam herself even mentions this when realizing who her online boyfriend was, calling out Austin when he's in a committed relationship.
** Sam had to suffer a heap of misery and abuse from her step-family because [[spoiler: a) her father left his will that meant she would inherit everything inside one of her favourite books, instead of leaving it securely with his attorney or the county (or even Rhonda, who clearly would have Sam's best interests at heart) and b) Sam never looked inside that book in ''eight years''. And even if Sam had found the will immediately after he died, did her father really expect that an ''eight year old'' would know what to do with it?]]
** What exactly was stopping Rhonda from letting Sam live with her and taking her from Fiona’s wrath in the first place? Why did she wait until Sam actually stood up to her to do so?
*** Maybe Sam turned 18 recently, and before that Rhonda would have been charged with kidnapping?
*** It's established that Sam is graduating high school a year early, so her being 18 is unlikely.

* SignatureScene: The climax where Sam tells off the people who wronged her throughout the film.

* WhatAnIdiot: Austin can't recognize Sam's voice when they're at the diner. Despite the fact they had a lengthy conversation at the dance. Not to mention she has long blonde hair, and he could've eliminated anyone without that hair color.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The main gimmick - that Austin and Sam only know each other anonymously through internet chat rooms - firmly roots the movie to the 2000s. Their cell phones are also the now-outdated flip phones of the time. Additionally, social media doesn't play any part in the story, and it would have factored into the plot had the movie been made even five years later. The lack of attention paid to the bullying at school roots the movie to the 2000s as well. Astrid is also dressed in the typical early 2000s PopPunk style.

* DesignatedHero: Austin emotionally cheated on Shelby with an innocent girl, and rejected Sam for being, well, a waitress. His only redeeming qualities are that he is rich and pretty.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Well hello there, [[Film/EasyA Brandon]] and [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Howard]]. Who played them, and who do those actors play in this movie?

* TearJerker: The pep-rally scene. To further rub salt in the wound, there is also a scene shortly afterwards with people laughing at Sam in the hallway.

%%* RetroactiveRecognition: Well hello there, [[Film/EasyA Brandon]] and [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Howard]].
%%Who played them, and who do those actors play in this movie?

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Austin. Some see him as the perfect match for Sam due to being a LovableJock, while others think otherwise due to his rather questionable decision in rejecting Sam after finding out she was "Cinderella".

** Safe to say that if Austin had broken up with Shelby a long time ago, rather than the night of an important dance, she would at least have not placed all her fury at Sam when finding from her stepsisters about what happened. Sam herself even mentioned this when realizing who her online boyfriend was, calling out Austin when he's in a committed relationship.

* IdiotPlot: Sam had to suffer a heap of misery and abuse from her step-family because [[spoiler: a) her father left his will that meant she would inherit everything inside one of her favourite books, instead of leaving it securely with his attorney or the county (or even Rhonda, who clearly would have Sam's best interests at heart) and b) Sam never looked inside that book in ''eight years''. And even if Sam had found the will immediately after he died, did her father really expect that an ''eight year old'' would know what to do with it?]]

** Austin emotionally cheated on Shelby with an innocent girl, and rejected Sam for being, well, a waitress. His only redeeming qualities are that he is rich and pretty.

* TheWoobie: Sam, who like many other variations of Cinderella tragically loses her father and is abused by her step-family, and bullied horrendously at school, [[spoiler:until she final earns her happy ending!]]

* FanPreferredCouple: Some fans felt that Sam was better off with sweet, faithful Carter (or even Terry, who already liked Sam for who she was) than Austin, who cruelly rejected her when he found out who she really was.

* HollywoodHomely: It's ''Hilary Duff'' in a ''baseball cap!'' It's hard to believe that Hilary Duff would be considered a "loser" in this at all. Though to be fair, the only person who ever says she's unattractive is Fiona, who is implied to be jealous of her. That aside, it's remarked on about how pretty Sam is by (at least) Carter and Terry, when she's dressed normally. She wears a baseball cap because shes a tomboy who likes baseball.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Well hello there, [[Film/EasyA Brandon]] and [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Howard]].