Nappaland's DVDBlog

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ENCHANTED (PG)

(Walt Disney Video)

Plot Summary: A Disney princess is thrown into Times Square, New York, where her prince must come to rescue her.

Reason for the Rating: Some scary images and mild innuendo.

As I watched the first scene of this movie, complete with an overly pert princess singing (with furry bunnies and birds) about longing to find her true love’s kiss, I couldn’t help but think: What have I gotten myself into?

Soon after, though, I was delighted to see that I'd gotten myself into another magical Disney movie. In classic Disney animation, Princess Giselle (played by a surprisingly endearing Amy Adams) waits for her true love, Prince Edward (played by the always endearing James Marsden). They meet, share a song, and naturally plan to wed the next day.

But Prince Edward’s evil stepmother (Susan Sarandon) will have none of it. She throws Giselle down a well and into the heart of live-action New York City. Here, she meets Robert, an uptight divorce lawyer (Patrick Dempsey), and his lovely little daughter, Morgan.

Giselle sparkles with enchantment, and even the New York City rats and cockroaches become her happy companions. Much singing and dancing ensues, culminating in an over-the-top musical parade through Central Park, with a Jamaican band and the entire cast of Rent, seemingly.

Never fear, now Prince Edward comes galloping into the scene to rescue his fair love. But Giselle has found herself alarmingly drawn to, of all people, the divorce lawyer, and the fairy tale princess must reconsider her fairy tale ending.

Disney is so adept at poking fun at its own clichés and stereotypes, that at first you’re not sure if this movie is for real. But throughout, it maintains a delicate balance of poking fun at the bubblegum fairy tale genre, without bile, but with a loving nudge—the way you might poke an old friend in the ribs.

The weakness of this movie is in the strength of the beginning and middle…the end just doesn’t really compete, even with a desperate fight against an evil dragon on the spire of a New York building. (Although Disney must be given credit for the revision of the helpless damsel: Delicate, sweet Giselle fights the dragon herself.)

In the days of revisionist fairy tales such as Wicked and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister (by Gregory Maguire), a fresh take on the classic was timely. Disney keeps the good (a kind and generous heroine), mocks the bad (singing mice make way for crooning rats), and subverts the ugly (no more passive damsel: This princess has a choice about her fate, and acts to make it happen).   

Enchanted is, well, enchanting. It allows you, as an adult, to reenter the world of fairy tale with a wink so you don’t feel overly embarrassed for having enjoyed it.

DVDBLOG RECOMMENDS:

Enchanted is a refreshingly creative and fun movie that, unless you’re an evil stepmother, will have you humming and smiling and maybe even talking to chipmunks. Gather the whole family around and pop this one into the DVD player for a fun evening together.

AFTER THE SHOW: 

• Giselle saw goodness and beauty in the people around her. Do you tend to see the goodness in people rather than the bad? Explain.

• Do you believe in happily ever after? Why or why not?

• Have you ever had to rethink what you always thought your fairy tale ending would be? Tell about it.

AV

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Note: All movie-related graphics in this column are standard publicity/promotional shots and are owned by their respective movie studios.