Enchanted Directed: Kevin Lima Cast: Amy Adams, James Marsden, Susan Sarandon Category: IIA Duration: 107 minutes You would have to be a bit of a stone not to enjoy this engaging fantasy. If you don’t enjoy the romance, you will certainly enjoy the spoofs and the irony. The opening of the film transports us back to the heyday of Disney films and their animation style. Here is Giselle, not a princess, but a dreamer like Snow White, who knows that one day her prince will come. And he does, listening to her song wafting over the countryside. She confides all her hopes to the biggest collection of supporting animal cast since Bambi. Unfortunately for Giselle and Prince Edward, his wicked stepmother (straight out of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty) puts a curse on Giselle and sends her as far away as possible, down a well - into a busy Times Square and in the human form of the charming Amy Adams. For those who were wondering what the film was getting at, once they are in New York, they will be at ease, except that they will be laughing a lot. What happens when you blend the innocence and charm of fairyland with modern New York City? For the cartoon characters, it can be life transforming. Giselle finds that being human is not being a two dimensional drawing with one dimensional thinking and feeling. Grateful for any help, she is looked after by a businessman (Patrick Dempsey on leave from Gray’s Anatomy and obviously relishing a substantial film role) and his daughter. He is generous but mystified and exasperated but his daughter is enraptured by Giselle who gradually becomes more Cinderella-like. As with Crocodile Dundee and ingenuous others from out-of-town, there is a lot of comedy to be had from misunderstandings and mix-ups in the big city. This is further complicated when Timothy Spall turns up to do the wicked stepmother’s evil behest to get rid of Giselle. Lots of comedy in his disguises and his frustrated and failed attempts. Then more complications when Prince Edward materialises in search of Giselle. He is even more of a Crocodile Dundee, but without the innate sense of humour and shrewdness. He remains amusingly two dimensional in the fine performance by James Marsden (who was also very good in his role as the MC in Hairspray). His one dimensional thinking, feeling (and expectations that he and Giselle should be singing romantic songs) do not change. Then, at last, at a ball, the stepmother materialises in the form of Susan Sarandon. Battle begins. There are some romantic songs from Alan Mencken and Stephen Schwarz which often receive the spoof treatment – and the lyrics are often very funny. There is a chipmunk who can speak in fairyland but can only make noises in the real world and is forced to do charades which Prince Edward continually misinterprets. There is enough for the kids to enjoy (well, maybe not boys between 11 and 16), enough for the adults – and enough for the cynics as well. |
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