Enchanted

Taking a page from SHREK and alternately signaling its return to the days of classic Disney, ENCHANTED is a charming spoof of the fairy tale conventions we all know and an introduction to Disney’s newest beloved princess. Thanks to a pitch-perfect performance from Amy Adams, the film manages to make good on the old “fish out of water” ploy and remain fresh and exciting throughout.

Starting off in traditional cel animation (the studio’s first attempt since 2004), ENCHANTED starts off with the classic fairy tale romance between Giselle and Prince Edward, who meet and fall in love through the power of song. But wherever true love is found, evil cannot be far away. This arises in the form of Narissa, Edward’s stepmother who is afraid of letting her kingdom slip into another’s hands. She banishes Giselle to the place where happy endings never come true: modern day New York. The film switches into live action (and a wider format) and we again meet Giselle (Adams), lost and confused in the unfriendly real world. She is saved by Robert (Patrick Dempsey), a divorce lawyer with a rather downtrodden view on life. Their mismatched personalities spar at first, but soon Giselle teaches Robert and his young daughter about the joy of true love and all that stuff in the fairy tales.

The film is chock full of references to past Disney animated films. Giselle herself is an amalgam of Snow White, Belle and Ariel (if only because of Adam’s long red hair). The evil queen (hammily rendered in live action by Susan Sarandon) is a dead ringer for Snow White’s stepmother; she even dresses as a hag and offers poisoned apples. Some of the film’s charm lies in finding the visual cues to past films (such as Giselle reflected in bubbles a la CINDERELLA), but when the plot seems so focused on the throwbacks, especially SNOW WHITE, the whole thing becomes a bit tired and clichéd. The film’s finale, therefore, doesn’t come off as particularly exciting. We all know exactly how the story is going to end, even if there are a few 21st century twists along the way.

The real reason for the film’s success, and where most of its charm lies, is in Amy Adams’s live action performance. She is a Disney princess brought to life, and there’s nothing more to say about it. Skipping and singing through the early parts of the film, in a nearly unwieldy dress no less, she appears to have had every Disney cartoon implanted into her brain. Her sweetness and sadness are so animated and sympathetic, Giselle ranks up there with Belle, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. This is a breakthrough performance for Adams, who will probably have to prepare herself for hordes of 10-year-old fans for the rest of her life.

Director Kevin Lima (of past Disney films TARZAN and 102 DALMATIANS) keeps things lively, always winking at the audience to keep things from getting too sappy. This is never more apparent then when Giselle bursts into song. She calls out for her animal friends to help clean the house, and rats, deformed pigeons, flies and cockroaches swarm the room. When she sings in Central Park, the act quickly turns into a full-blown musical number with everyone joining in. Except, of course for Robert, who watches confusedly, wondering aloud why everyone seems to know the song. The numbers, penned by Disney alums Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz are bouncy and bright, hearkening back to the glory days of the Disney animated musical.

The filmmakers and audience are so enamored with the comic possibilities invented that the sense of danger rarely pervades the scene. And indeed, the dramatic finale seems tacked onto the rest of the proceedings. But that does not deflate the sense of charm that viewers of all ages will be infected by. While not as clever a self-parody as other films, Adams’s inspired performance and light, breezy tone make ENCHANTED the perfect family film for the holidays. Even if the animation does not rank with Disney’s most artistic, the film is a fond look back to what came before and an optimistic look at what lies in store.

***/****