Enchanted (November 21, 2007)

Enchanted is another film in the vein of So Dear to My Heart, or Song of the South, in that, while it includes animated segments, the majority of it is live action (as opposed to a true hybrid like the recent Alvin and the Chipmunks or Smurfs movies). It is essentially a parody/ commentary on traditional Disney princess movies like DreamWorks’ Shrek was a few years prior. The story starts out the traditional way, a prince, named Edward, is wandering in the woods when he hears the heavenly voice of a damsel, named Giselle living a quiet existence with her animal friends. It is love at first sight, but before they can wed his evil stepmother, Queen Narissa (unbeknownst to him) casts a spell which transports the fair maiden into the decided less magical New York City. She has an intense hatred for Giselle simply because she is an obstacle for her to keep her power as Queen. Once in New York City, Giselle meets Robert Phillip, a cynical divorce attorney (who happens to be engaged and has a child) and, over the course of the film, the fall in love (despite Robert’s initial disbelief in true love or happily-ever-after). While this love is blossoming, Prince Edward follows after Giselle with the intent to save and then marry her. To ensure that Giselle is done away with Queen Narissa sends Nathaniel to do her bidding. The animated portions are charming- they remind me vaguely of Who Framed Rodger Rabbit, a more adult twist on traditional 2D animation. New York City is the perfect setting for this story. It is the perfect antithesis to a storybook land- with a bit of weirdness and hidden magic to make the transition smoother. Amy Adams does a great job playing the character Giselle, a naïve and bubbly princess. The rest of the actors perform their characters well, each a different take on classic fairytale troupes. For instance, Nathaniel initially obediently follows the Queen’s orders because he is infatuated with her but eventually, he realizes she is merely manipulating him through his emotions and so rebels. Prince Edward, played by James Marsden, is a narcissistic but naïve prince who comes to realize and accept that Giselle does not love him, growing as a person in the process. The Queen is your standard garden variety villain, but she works in the context of the story keeping it moving. The romance is sweet and silly, with a few delightful and obligatory musical numbers throw in. However, the ending goes off the rails for me- I think they went too big and dramatic for the sake of making them film more cinematic, but it was unnecessary. Or it would have worked better had they been taken back to their 2D animated kingdom instead of it happening in the real world where it looks exceedingly fake and awkward. The finale where everyone gets their happy ending, however, is super charming (though a bit rushed- but I apricate the effort). Overall, Enchanted is an underrated gem of a film. It is by no means a cinematic masterpiece, but it manages to charm the audience with its saccharine coating and well executed twist on the classic fairy tale formula.

Final Rating: 6.5/10