Review: Enchanted (Widescreen, DVD)
Just watched Enchanted, a combination live action and animation film from Disney. Directed by Kevin Lima. Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, and Rachel Covey — and others. Special Features: Bloopers, Deleted Scenes, a music video, three making of musical number features, Pop-up book of Pip’s Adventure, then a short bit that tells you if you got the BluRay Disc there would be some neat features you didn’t get on the regular disc (I think this was a cheap shot but that’s just me–but it did confirm my belief that I had spotted a lot of homages to past Disney fairy tale animation films.)
Enchanted is basically a mash up of Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella, with the main character named Giselle falling through the rabbit hole construct from fairy tale land to New York City — from a land of happily ever after to a place where no one cares and there is never a happily ever after. The reason for the fall through the interdimensional portal was that the Wicked Queen Narissa/Stepmother didn’t want to loose her crown and her power when her stepson, Price Edward, married. She’d managed to keep him busy for years and away from women so he’d never meet the girl of his dreams. But Giselle and Edward sang a duet and thus were fated to be lovers, married, and live happily ever after. Until the Queen (evil remember) decides to step in and fix things. In New York City, Giselle finds things very different but she’s plucky and lucky and manages to find a friend to help her. Edward, of course, is a hero and must save his beloved. So, much adventure, lots of wonderful musical numbers, miscellaneous misunderstandings, and then true love finds it way with a bit of a twist.
The animation in New York City is absolutely amazing. Top of the line and very realistic. The animation in fairy tale land, Andalasia is a wonderful homage to the original Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella animation of yesteryear. The acting is also top notch considering a lot of time it was responding to nothing at all. Amy Adams did a stunning performance playing Giselle as a innocent who has a totally different outlook on life. It reminded me a bit of the wolf in 10th Kingdom though with none of the innuendo and darkside of that rendition of fairly tale life.
This is definitely a film that the entire family can watch, including the younger children. The story is well told and the violence is the old Disney minor level that children should be able to deal with. The music is catchy and the musical numbers a lot of fun to watch, much like the old musicals I loved as a child: The Music Man, Mary Poppins, and so on… Don’t hesitate to have a family film night with this one.
As far as the Hugo award nomination goes…I don’t get it. The special effects are stunning, but the story doesn’t have the depth and layering that I’d expect a film nominated for a Hugo award should have. Is it a good film? Yes, it is. But it doesn’t have that extra textural/visual depth that I’ve come to expect in nominees, especially after last years slate of nominees (depressing as all get out but nonetheless outstanding films). And before anyone calls me on it — yes, I did nominate this year.
So, for some light entertainment and some good time to spend with family and popcorn at home, check out Enchanted. It is enchanting.