Overall Rating: Score: 8.6/10
Grade: A
Family-Friendliness Scale: Level 4 (Great)
Kids ages 6+
Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and others are what our parents grew up with. Now for this generation, the Disney fairy tales are still here, but in the real world? Would it still be as magical?
Enchanted starts off like any other Disney fairy tale, with a young maiden looking for her true love, a prince wanting the same, and a heartless queen who wishes not to be overthrown. But when the prince finds the maiden, the queen disguises herself as an old hag (similar to Snow White) and throws the maiden, Giselle (Amy Adams), down a wishing well that transports her to modern-day New York City. Naive and unaware of what's going on, Giselle seeks refuge with a divorce lawyer named Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter, Morgan. And with Prince Edward (James Marsden) and a talking chipmunk going after her to save her, and the queen, Narissa (Susan Sarandon), hoping to make sure Giselle's well disposed-of, its' going to be one wild ride.
Positive Notes
The film is meant to entertain more than educate, but viewers will still find some lessons on the importance of family as well as finding the one true love and being yourself. Giselle has a heart as big as the animated world of Andalasia, and she shows kindness and love towards everyone she meets, and Robert is a caring, loving father towards his daughter Morgan, as he tries to get her well-acquainted with his girlfriend, Nancy (Idina Menzel). The cast, including Adams, Dempsey, Sarandon, and the others, are stellar in their own right, and we even see cameos from past voice-artists for Disney princesses including Jodi Benson (Ariel), Paige O'Hara (Belle), and Judy Kuhn (singing voice of Pocahontas), as well as Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins) narrating the beginning and end.
Alan Menken once again brings his wonderful music to this film, and does a wonderful job with the films' score, and the songs by him and Stephen Schwartz (who also did lyrics for the songs from Pocahontas, Hunchback of Notre Dame) are as memorable as the ones from earlier Disney movies, with the stand-outs being "Happy Working Song", "True Love's Kiss", "Ever Ever After", and "That's How You Know". The hand-drawn animation for the first and ending parts of the movie are nice, and the computer animation used for the dragon and chipmunk are also very impressive.
Negative Notes
As usual, magic is in the mix, but its' about the same in context as what you'd expect in other Disney fairy tales. Younger kids might be scared by a fearsome old hag and dragon. A few perilous moments and mild innuendos (Giselle is seen in the shower [no nudity is shown] and she lands on top of Robert, a couple of other slight hints). Both Giselle and Narissa wear cleavage-baring outfits. "Jeez" is said once. A poodle urinates on Prince Edward and a chipmunk poops in surprise.
Conclusion
True to its' roots, Enchanted continues Disney's line of great films with loads of fun and memorable moments, great musical numbers and engaging characters.
