Ok, I may be a little behind the times on this one, but I simply cannot help myself. This past weekend, while in search of a movie fit for all ages, we came upon Disney's Enchanted in our pile of DVDs. I was content to sit through this energy filled, cleverly written, funny fairy tale one more time. Star Amy Adams as Giselle is amazing, funny and she can sing, too! The comedic talents of the adorable James Marsden as Prince Edward are hilarious. And it doesn't hurt that the dreaminess of Patrick Dempsey as Robert, is included in the package! May I point out that the incredible stage actress, Idina Menzel (Wicked), is also in the cast, it's just a shame that she doesn't get to sing! While I realize that this movie was released in 2007 and has been available on DVD for some time, watching it brought me so much joy that it reminded me that it may just be one of Disney's best films, at least in the most recent years.
So, in case you have not seen the movie, the story begins in the cartoon land of Andalasia. There, viewers see the cartoon Giselle dreaming of her true love. Once she encounters her prince and is thrown into the "real world" by her future "evil stepmother" the fun really begins. Every possibly Disney element is present in the ensuing scenes: the poison apple, the glass slipper, forest critters who like to clean, etc. And each scene allows Disney to be...well...Disney. Whatever you do, don't miss the (award winning) park scene where Giselle sings the infectious, That's How You Know and Prince Edward's apartment building search for his princess. Both of these scenes are unforgettable. Throughout the movie, Disney takes every opportunity to poke fun at themselves. They say that being able to laugh at one's self is a pretty good sign of honesty and humility. I really like those qualities in a movie production company!
Beyond the usual stuff of fairy tales, princesses and happily-ever-afters, there is a quiet story of personal growth playing out that most kids will not notice. I am referring to the change in the character of Giselle from a one dimensional animated figure to the live person expertly portrayed by Amy Adams. Watching the subtle progression of this gradual transformation is heartwarming and endearing. Described as 80% Snow White with traits borrowed from Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Ariel from the Little Mermaid, Giselle is romantic, independent and true to her convictions. While she matures as the movie plays she still remains innocent and optimistic.
Of course, there can be no happy ending without a villain to stir things up. The cruel stepmother Narissa, played by Susan Sarandon, is completely evil which makes it easy to detest her. Her character appears as an old hag, the evil queen and eventually a gigantic dragon intent on destroying Giselle. Showing no redeeming qualities at all, Sarandon's performance is just one more fantastic piece of this puzzle and it makes for quite the final scene!
Towards the end of the movie, there is a scene where Robert's young daughter Morgan goes shopping with Giselle, it is understated and sweet. And the icing on the proverbial cake is that this wonderful film is narrated by the incredible actress Dame Julie Andrews. It is very difficult to dislike this movie and if you hadn't guessed already, I highly recommend it! It can be so very difficult to find movies these days that don't cross a line somewhere and become inappropriate or offensive. This motion picture has all of the necessary little girl princess elements, enough action to keep little boys interested and plenty of grownup story to keep the adults happy. It definitely makes my top five movies but that is a story for another column. Why not send me your top five family friendly movies and we can discuss in a future write up!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
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