Enchanted (2007)
Released: November 21, 2007
Director: Kevin Lima
*****
Every once in a while, a movie comes along which flips convention on its head. It takes what we know, contorts it into something else and gives us a fresh experience. Just at a time when Disney films had become cliche, Enchanted came along, made fun of every tradition and allowed us to believe again, if only for a couple of hours. Princess-to-be Giselle (Amy Adams) is transported to modern day New York courtesy of her evil step-mother-to-be, Narissa (Susan Sarandon). There, she meets lawyer Robert (Patrick Dempsey), a man who has all but given up on the things Giselle believes in: true love forever and ever. When Prince Edward (James Marsden) braves the mean New York streets to find his beloved, a new world awaits him. And possibly a new love.
What Enchanted does so well is blend tried and true Disney ideas-lavish production numbers, animals flocking to a princess, hopelessly naive characters, an evil queen-and makes fun of them without actually making fun of them. First and foremost is Amy Adams as Giselle, quite possibly the best bit of acting from a lead actress in 2007. She is completely believable at every turn, from not knowing what a date is to taking matters into her own hands at the end. There is a naivety in everything she does, yet she isn't a stupid character. Marsden, in another of his broad and pompous characters, overacts, sometimes quite outrageously so. But we believe his personae based on what Adams brings to the table beforehand.
If there is a weak link, it is Robert, his daughter Morgan and girlfriend Nancy. They are plot contrivances and feel like afterthoughts in most scenes. Morgan especially is thrown in for apparently no good reason. She has no critical part in the narrative nor does she appear on screen in the climactic finale. Nancy, for her part, isn't given anything of substance to do, though her eventual fate jives nearly perfectly with what we know of her.
The finale, featuring Susan Sarandon in full diva mode, rings just a bit hollow and sped up, as if a certain running time had to be met instead of a naturally flowing story. It's not enough to derail Enchanted, a story about learning to be critical, but not too critical as to miss what is staring you in the face. A bit of a hammy message to be sure, but also an endearing one in true Disney style.
Director: Kevin Lima
*****
Every once in a while, a movie comes along which flips convention on its head. It takes what we know, contorts it into something else and gives us a fresh experience. Just at a time when Disney films had become cliche, Enchanted came along, made fun of every tradition and allowed us to believe again, if only for a couple of hours. Princess-to-be Giselle (Amy Adams) is transported to modern day New York courtesy of her evil step-mother-to-be, Narissa (Susan Sarandon). There, she meets lawyer Robert (Patrick Dempsey), a man who has all but given up on the things Giselle believes in: true love forever and ever. When Prince Edward (James Marsden) braves the mean New York streets to find his beloved, a new world awaits him. And possibly a new love.
What Enchanted does so well is blend tried and true Disney ideas-lavish production numbers, animals flocking to a princess, hopelessly naive characters, an evil queen-and makes fun of them without actually making fun of them. First and foremost is Amy Adams as Giselle, quite possibly the best bit of acting from a lead actress in 2007. She is completely believable at every turn, from not knowing what a date is to taking matters into her own hands at the end. There is a naivety in everything she does, yet she isn't a stupid character. Marsden, in another of his broad and pompous characters, overacts, sometimes quite outrageously so. But we believe his personae based on what Adams brings to the table beforehand.
If there is a weak link, it is Robert, his daughter Morgan and girlfriend Nancy. They are plot contrivances and feel like afterthoughts in most scenes. Morgan especially is thrown in for apparently no good reason. She has no critical part in the narrative nor does she appear on screen in the climactic finale. Nancy, for her part, isn't given anything of substance to do, though her eventual fate jives nearly perfectly with what we know of her.
The finale, featuring Susan Sarandon in full diva mode, rings just a bit hollow and sped up, as if a certain running time had to be met instead of a naturally flowing story. It's not enough to derail Enchanted, a story about learning to be critical, but not too critical as to miss what is staring you in the face. A bit of a hammy message to be sure, but also an endearing one in true Disney style.
