James McAvoy and Christina Ricci in Penelope Courtesy of Summit Entertainment

Welcome to the inaugural column in Premiere's "A Night in..." series, a guide to those nights when you just want to hang out with friends, food, and a flick.

Somehow, Penelope got lost in the shuffle. After this funky little fairy tale was unveiled at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival, it languished on the shelves until February 2008, when it hit a handful of theaters and disappeared in a flurry of bad reviews. Granted, a magical romance about a heiress with a pig nose (Christina Ricci), an unbearable mother (Catherine O'Hara), and an unending parade of horrible suitors after the heroine's inheritance might not be to everyone's taste, but why the hate? Critics complained Penelope wasn't ugly enough, the plot was humorless, or that producer Reese Witherspoon's cameo as Annie, the free-spirited biker, was thankless at best.

But I beg to differ. Even when the story isn't at its strongest — okay, I'll admit it does lose steam once Penelope goes public but picks up again at the end — the design, direction, and acting work in harmony to create a magical world that isn't quite the past, present or future but is still totally relatable. And even Penelope's prison, her parents' giant castle, is full of wonders like flowers growing in bell jars, butterflies, and a red velvet swing. Ricci, in a dazzling array of quirky dresses, colorful tights, and delicate heels, emotes with her giant eyes and deadpan voice as men jump out the window to escape her. And of course... there's James McAvoy as Max, the caddish, tormented admirer. Penelope's bid for freedom and self-love ends up rosy and sweet, so pair this pick with some ardor-inspired treats to have the ideal girls' night in.

Tears of the Bride — this Dutch liquor is traditionally drunk on wedding anniversaries, but it's delicious enough for any fan of sweet cocktails to enjoy. It tastes like roses and cinnamon and cake, and it's got flecks of gold and silver in it. Seriously decadent and potent. Read about and/or buy it here.
Rose Petal Cupcakes — vanilla yumminess with rose petals on top. Get the recipe.
Mexican Chocolate Squares — not too sweet, with coffee and cinnamon for that little kick. Get the recipe.

Tune in next week for next week's installment — Swingers!