“Enchanted” is the latest fantasy from
Walt Disney Pictures, which incorporates animation with live action. The story begins as an animated film in a land called
Andalasia. There is of course
a beautiful princess named
Giselle, (Amy Adams) who is
dreaming of finding
her “true love” a Prince, of course. Giselle sings a song of romance,
"True Love’s Kiss” which undoubtedly will be Disney’s nomination for “Best Title Song”
written by Oscar winners
Alan Menken and
Stephen Schwartz (Pocohontas).
Giselle's singing draws the attention of a
handsome (are there any other kind)
Prince. They meet and finish the song as a duet, which means they were meant for each other and will
live happily everafter. The song is actually quite catchy,
(I caught myself singing it on the drive home from the
El Capitan Theater).
When the
evil Queen
(Susan Sarandon) the Prince’s Mother, finds out, she pushes Giselle down a magic well to get rid of her, since she fears her throne will be threatened. Our
Heroin is catapulted from Andalasia to present day New York City and
appears out of a sewer manhole
in Times Square. She is indeed a stranger in a strange land until she accidentally meets
a divorce attorney,
(Patrick Dempsey) who is about to become engaged to his girlfriend of five years.
Dempsey, who is already jaded from a previous divorce himself, is caught between his upcoming engagement and
Giselle who and completely supportive,
is kind, sweet, unselfish(every guys dream girl). In the meantime her
Prince jumps into the magic well to track down and rescue his fairytale Princess. Oh, did I mention the cute little chipmunk friend and companion who tries to warn the Prince when the Evil Queen tries to put
Giselle to sleep with a poisoned apple. (Sound familiar?)
Sarandon is wonderful as the Evil Queen, alas; the writers keep her animated through most of the movie. It isn’t until the end of the film that we actually get to see her as a flesh and blood villainess.
Dempsey is also terrific as the love interest and a single father raising a little girl. Dempsey’s daughter is cute and genuine, and quickly becomes attached to her fathers “new friend”. When Giselle and the daughter start bonding and talking about relationships, the little girl say’s, “Men only want one thing!” “What is that?” Giselle asks, the little girl replies, “I don’t know, no one will tell me!"
Adams (who won a Golden Globe award for Junebug) literally brings Giselle to life and
you can’t help but fall in love with her.
“Enchanted” marks
Director Kevin Lima’s sixth film for Disney. He won a
DGA award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children’s Programs for “Eloise at Christmastime” and was
nominated for
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in an Animated Feature Production for “Tarzan”.
“Enchanted” works on all levels, whether it’s real or animated. The screening I attended was filled with seventy percent children all under the age of ten. From the reaction from parents and kids alike,
this film will be a Holiday hit!
If you see
“Enchanted” at the El Capitan Theater, you can also enjoy
Disney’s "Enchanted Experience", where you can see
costumes from the movie, play interactive games or
meet and take pictures with
Giselle, Snow White, The Little Mermaid and other
characters from Disney’s world of animation.
For more information on
“Enchanted”, or
Disney’s “Enchanted Experience”, go to the website
disney.go.com/disneypictures/enchanted
