Enchanted (Widescreen Edition)

In ENCHANTED, Disney animated fairy tales receive the Last Action Hero (Widescreen Edition) treatment, um, but with superior results. You must've seen that trailer with the heroic Prince in the big city about to burst into song only to be abruptly mowed down by a horde of couldn't care less cyclists. In essence, that scene is a microcosm of the movie. If you like thumbing your nose at hallowed conventions, then let ENCHANTED work its spell on you. If Amy Adams deserved Oscar consideration for Junebug (and she did), then she deserves another nod for Giselle, because serious acting did go into this part.

The first fifteen minutes or so of ENCHANTED spool out as your pedestrian, standard Disney animated fable, even hearkening back to 2D animation and smacking of Uncle Walt's head in the clouds sentimentalism. The magical kingdom of Andalasia is introduced, home to the sparkling Giselle, a princess so winsome that all manner of woodland creatures flock to her side. She quickly meets, sings a love duet with, and falls in love with the dashing Prince Edward (all in one day). This doesn't at all suit Edward's step-mother, Queen Narissa a.k.a. the evil witch and the haggish Big Bad of the tale.

Feeling the squeeze on her power base the Queen banishes Giselle to "a place where there are no happily ever afters." Giselle emerges from a manhole cover in Times Square, transforming from 2-D animation to full live action flesh and blood, and this is where the story really gets going and where the film shifts from conventional Disney fairy tale into this whimsical yet decidedly snarky thing. Really, what could be more juxtaposed than the embodiment of dreams plonked into a cynical hellhole like New York City?

ENCHANTED is just awesome. A clever script, spot-on skewering, fabulous performances, and even the songs are perfect fits. "That's How You Know," Giselle's bouncy song in Central Park, is pretty darn exhilarating, with Giselle and normally hard-bitten New Yorkers coming together for an elaborate number. Undeniably, that the film comes this strong has to be mostly attributed to Amy Adams, who is simply pitch perfect. The key to what she does here is that her performance isn't couched in irony or self-awareness; the slightest hint of either would've capsized the film. She plays it absolutely straight as an animated princess come to life, all with the wide eyes and the quivery, fluttery voice. And, if you take a good gander, she even captures all those animated princessly mannerisms, that slightly stilted, off-kilter grace. I think it's brilliant stuff.

It's a quelling sensation, the naive Princess Giselle stumbling around in rainy NYC, as she strives to befriend everyone, and everyone in turn either ignores her, disparages her, or steals from her. Luckily, when she plummets off a Palace Casino billboard (she thinks it a real castle), she's caught in the arms of pessimistic divorce lawyer Robert Philip. Robert takes her in and attempts to induct her in the pragmatic ways of everyday reality, one of those easier said than done gigs as Giselle is undeterred in her naiveté and optimism. As played by Patrick Dempsey, Robert right away plants this bemused look on his face and maintains it for much of the film. He tells her, sort of accusingly: "It's like you escaped from a Hallmark card or something." Naturally, Robert's young daughter Morgan takes to her at first sight.

Further shenanigans arrive in the form of Prince Edward, as fleshly realized by X-MEN's James Marsden (probably because Cary Elwes was getting too long in the tooth). Surprisingly Marsden turns out to be another of the film's strengths, and this is the best and liveliest I've ever seen him. Guy is terrific in his spoofy, exaggerated turn as the square-jawed, dim-witted prince whose attempts at song are interrupted like clockwork (we may never know how "True Love's Kiss" ends). It's fun watching him cut a swath in NYC, slaying buses and conversing with the television (which he readily believes to be a magic mirror).

Rounding off the cast, there's that girl who plays the thankless role of Dempsey's fiancee, Timothy Spall (Wormtail in the Harry Potter films) is the prince's duplicitous manservant Nathaniel, Susan Sarandon has fun hamming it up as the witch queen (love her "Hello, worthless." line, dripping with caustic disdain), and then there's that exasperating CG-rendered chipmunk (which, by the way, rivals the googly-eyed guinea pig in BEDTIME STORIES in sheer annoyance).

In ENCHANTED's tweaking of established Disney fairy tales, I have quite a few favorite scenes, the funniest probably being what happens when Giselle decides to clean Robert's apartment and so sends a trilling call to arms to all the woodland creatures to help with housekeeping, and I still laugh hard and long at the disgusting urban vermin which answers the call. And, of course, there's also Giselle's singing in the park, with Robert's bemused, cynical presence the perfect capper. On a more romantic side Giselle and Robert's memorable waltz recalls Belle and the Beast's sweeping ballroom dance. By the way, I think that Patrick Dempsey does well to play it low key. As such, he provides the perfect bewildered foil for Amy Adams's sweet obliviousness.

Although, "obliviousness" isn't quite apt. Giselle, over time, does develop into a more complex character as New York rubs off some on her, although the syrup doesn't entirely run out. When Prince Edward at lasts finds her in New York, he bursts into spontaneous song and it's a significant moment when Giselle fails to join him on cue. And then, before he sweeps her away to Andalasia, she asks that he first take her on a date so that they could get to know one another. Of course, even skewed fairy tales must have a ball, and that's where everything comes together: the swelling romance, the awkwardness of the left out romantic opposites, the face-off with the evil witch and the somewhat jarring CG-rendered big battle, and the tongue-in-cheek assortment of happily ever afters. I have to admit that the flat animation bugged me whenever it reared up, but that's a minor thing, easily overwhelmed by what's good in the film. ENCHANTED ebulliently floats on its charm and wit, the inherent good will behind its elbow digs, and clearly on Amy Adams's disarming interpretation. She won't win an Oscar for this one, but, really, so what? When you can charm rats and roaches and pigeons into cleaning up your crib, that is serious cachet, that is huge mojo. Eff the Oscar.

This movie is exactly what it says it is. There are no surprises. In this case, you certainly CAN judge a book, or more appropriately, a movie by it's cover. And with kid's movie, that is usually a good thing.
It's nice to see Disney poking fun at itself. When watching it for the first time, it was my favorite thing about it. (And even one of the ADULT MALES I watched it with was chuckling at the jokes.)
From having the classic animal sidekick, the sappy love at first site, the animals thronging at the princess's feet, the bystanders joining the impromptu singing, and the evil witch and her halfwit henchman, all the classic elements that make a Disney movie are a target. (Think Shrek without any crudeness or bull frog ballons.)
Then after watching it a few more times with the kids once it came out to DVD, the romance began to fade. I found myself unable to dislodge the reggae beat of "how do you know that you love him..." from my head... and out of my mouth! It wouldn't go away! AHH!
I began to detest the movie, and soon everything Enchanted was banned. Just recently I have put the songs back on the kid's playlist on the iPod.
But, it's still a really cute movie despite the ban. The kids (boys and girls) love it, and I'm almost ready to watch it again.
(Great. Now the song is stuck in my head.)

This is a great movie for the whole family to enjoy together, a rarity these days. This is one of the few movies my family saw at the theater at the insistence of ME, Mom, that is. When I saw a preview, I fell in love with the premise: the fairytale world of Disney animation meets New York City meets musical comedy. The blending of sincerity with satire creates a uniquely sweet yet (at least not to me) never cloying tone. How many of us grew up reading (and watching Disney versions of) classic European fairy tales? We all know the drill: someday my prince will come, evil stepmother intervenes, charming forest animals help to save the day, and everyone lives happily ever after. But how do we integrate that fodder from our childhood into our adult lives, or should we even try? Enchanted takes a light-hearted look at this very question. Giselle, an animated beauty from the land of Andalasia, meets Robert, a handsome divorce lawyer with a decidedly un-enchanted view of love.Robert has worked hard to protect his six year old daughter from the "dangers" inherent in believing in fictitious happily-ever-afters. So how will he react when a fairytale princess-to-be literally falls into their lives? I enjoyed every aspect of this movie: the charming performances by all the leads, the colorful musical numbers, the humor, and the gentle satire. I bought the dvd and watch it occasionally, finding the same enjoyment every time. If you're in the mood for a fun film that doesn't take itself too seriously yet scores with everything from big musical numbers to animated sequences to silly jokes and sight gags, buy Enchanted.

Director Kevin Lima and writer Bill Kelly present us with this modern fairy tale where animation collides with live action to regale us with the story of Princess-to-Be, Giselle, a cheery beauty of the storybook kingdom of Andalasia, played by russet-haired Amy Adams.
After an introduction by a well-chosen Julie Andrews, we find Giselle trying to create what turns out to be a stunningly accurate prototype for her true love, right down to the jacket, but interestingly, having no lips to put on the makeshift mannequin's face.
Despite the best efforts of the evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) to prevent her stepson Edward( James Marsden, with overly dramatic yet comic overtones) from meeting Giselle, whom Narissa fears will take her throne from her, the two do meet when Edward rescues Giselle from a troll(Fred Tatasciore).
Soon, Giselle's woodland creature friends are helping her prepare for her wedding, led by Pip the Chipmunk (Jeff Bennett, and Kevin Lima), who ironically sounds more like a New Yorker in the animated world than he does later.
But en route to marry a prince, Narissa, disguised as a hag, diverts Giselle's attention and tosses her into a well with a portal that leads to modern-day New York, which she enters through a manhole.
The vulnerable naif is a babe in the woods as she navigates her voluminous wedding gown through a crowded subway station. Shortly thereafter, a derelict old man(Edmund Lyndeck) steals her tiara.
But despite the setback, what was meant for Giselle's harm will ultimately be for her good and for the good of many.
While riding a taxi home, divorce attorney Robert Phillip (Patrick Dempsey), who brims with stereotypical New York cynicism, especially after a day dealing with bickering clients, is discussing the virtues of real-life heroines such as Rosa Parks and Madame Curie with his winsome and precocious daughter, Morgan(Rachel Covey), the latter of whom spots Giselle atop a billboard trying to enter the facade of its castle.
The 6-year-old, thinking her to be a real Princess, rushes out of the cab, and goes to see the mysterious lady on the billboard. Robert follows her, and Giselle ends up going home with them.
Morgan believes Giselle's fairy tale explanation as to her arrival there while her father, to say the least, will need a little more convincing.
The plot thickens when Edward and Pip travel through the portal to find Giselle, later followed by the Queen's henchman, Nathaniel("Harry Potter's" Timothy Spall), much to the dismay of the baffled sewer workers.
While awaiting Edward's arrival, Giselle and an assortment of enchanted creatures clean up the Phillip's apartment, much to Morgan's amazement and Robert's disgust.Giselle's presence also creates difficulties in his relationship with his girlfriend, Linda Tremaine( Broadway singer, Idina Menzel), who finds her and Robert in a compromising position.
As Edward wreaks havoc trying to find Giselle (watch for an incident before a billboard of the musical, "Hairspray", the film version in which Marsden appeared), and Nathaniel has consultations with Narissa in the oddest places, Giselle encounters Robert's clients, Phoebe and Ethan Banks (Tonya Pinkins and Isiah Whitlock Jr.) and will ultimately end their feud, and in a musical moment in which she gets a good percentage of New York behind her, she advises Robert on how to win back Linda's affections.
If she can make it there, she can make it anywhere!
In due time, Edward does arrive for Giselle, but something in her has changed.
The Queen arrives in New York for a final confrontation,when encountering each other at a ball, Giselle and Robert dance to a wistful tune with a lot of symbolism, but all ends well, and cynical and snide New Yorkers discover their own happily-ever-afters.
Witty and upbeat, with well-written dialogue, rafe with fairy tale cliches, and enhanced by Alan Menken's and Stephen Schwartz' score, "Enchanted" is nothing less than, well...Enchanting!

The Bottom Line:

A fun little film that works as a fairy tale and as a satire of one, Enchanted is one of those "family" entertainments that actually has a legitimate shot of pleasing the whole family; it's not perfect--the climax of the film leaves a lot to be desired--but it's a successful film.