Generations ago, a witch placed a curse on the Wilhern family that would result in the next girl being born into the clan having a porcine snout -- and now young Penelope (Christina Ricci) has fallen victim to the vengeful hag's unsightly grudge. When tabloid reporter Lemon (Peter Dinklage) runs a misleadingly frightening photograph of the kind-hearted Penelope, her parents, Jessica (Catherine O'Hara) and Franklin (Richard E. Grant), lock the girl away in a sprawling mansion. Though it is said that the curse can be lifted if a man of Penelope's status takes her hand in marriage, every man who lays eyes on the girl takes flight at first sight, never to return -- until the arrival of Max (James McAvoy), that is. An unrepentant gambler with a heavy heart and an ulterior motive for meeting Penelope, Max is unexpectedly caught off guard by the pig-nosed girl's disarming charm, and suddenly flees before having carried out his nefarious plan. Now determined to throw caution to the wind and explore the world on her own terms, Penelope makes the acquaintance of independent-minded delivery girl Annie (Reese Witherspoon), who quickly agrees to join her newfound friend on the ultimate journey of self-discovery.