Enchanted (Widescreen Edition) Reviews

• If a McDreamy is a wish your heart makes

  
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2007-12-02
  Some day my prince will come
  Some day we'll meet again
  And away to his castle we'll go
  To be happy forever I know
  
  (Lyrics from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Some Day my Prince Will Come)
  
  "Enchanted" begins in an animated land named Andalasia, with a young girl named Giselle (Amy Adams) meeting the prince of her dreams, Prince Edward (James Marsden) and preparing to live happily ever after. Andalasia, and large parts of the movie are based on a combination of the Disney worlds of Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, so of course you can count on the appearance of an evil stepmother-wicked witch (Susan Sarandon) to put an end to all the wretched happiness.
  
  As soon as Giselle comes within striking distance of the castle on her wedding day, the witch (disguised as an old hag) zaps her into another world where "happily ever afters" and true love apparently haven't existed for years - present day Manhattan.
  
  Switching to live action, Giselle tries to understand the New York state of mind, and falls into the arms of a McDreamy guy named Robert (I don't have to tell you who the actor is, now do I?) While Giselle begins getting acclimatized and introduces herself to the local wildlife, a rescue party from Andalasia also uses the Manhattan transfer, and soon the streets of New York are stormed by a CGI chipmunk, a prince in search of his missing damsel, and a henchman with a funny accent (Timothy Spall).
  
  If you're a fan of fairy tales, and in particular Disney tales, you'll love the little touches like poisoned apples in the Big Apple, Beauty & the Beast ballroom dancing and glass slippers, but this updated magical, musical, funny fairy tale will be a treat for the whole family.
  
  A definite "YES" for family entertainment, and one you probably should buy when it comes out on DVD. Rated: 4.5 stars
  
  
  
  
  Amanda Richards, December 2, 2007
  
  
  

• The Fairy Tale Gets a Reality Check

  
  By A18G7GG53G2X8A on 2007-11-22
  What would happen when an animated fairy tale princess found herself in our physical world? This question is the basis of "Enchanted," a Disney film addressing the fairy tale clichés so effectively that it's practically a parody. The film begins in the animated world of Andalasia with the opening of a storybook; a voiceover narration says the obligatory, "Once upon a time ..." before we're introduced to Giselle (voiced by Amy Adams), a peasant girl who, of course, lives in a quaint little cottage in the middle of the woods. As you might expect, she thinks of nothing but finding her one true love, going so far as to make a princely mannequin while singing brightly. To top that off, she's friendly with practically every creature inhabiting the forest, and they all pay her a visit as she sings. When she's almost eaten by a troll, the dashing Prince Edward (voiced by James Marsden) rescues her, and the two immediately decide to get married.
  
  But Edward's evil stepmother--Queen Narissa (voiced by Susan Sarandon)--refuses to give up the throne and vows to stop the wedding. Disguised as an old hag, she lures Giselle to a magical well and pushes her in. The well is actually a kind of inter-dimensional portal between Andalasia and our world, and according to Narissa, it's a place, "where there are no happily ever afters." Giselle emerges from a manhole in the middle of New York City. Amidst the confusing, frightening hustle and bustle of everyday living--in which people are rude, conniving, and fast-paced--a now-live action Giselle bumps into divorce attorney Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey) and his six-year-old daughter, Morgan (Rachel Covey). They take her in, although Robert is more than a little anxious about the situation; from his point of view, a delusional woman in a fluffy white princess dress is roaming the streets of Manhattan. Morgan, on the other hand, is thrilled, believing that a real princess has entered her life.
  
  As she prances around with all the grace and joy of the perpetually perky, Giselle gradually learns a few important things: (1) people in the real world don't break out into song for no apparent reason; (2) people don't like it when their curtains are used to make a dress; (3) it isn't appropriate to call forth birds, rats, and roaches to help tidy up; and (4) love is not as simple as meeting one day and marrying the next. Or is it? She and Robert share interesting conversations on the nature of relationships, his stance being that they're incredibly complicated, her stance being that they don't have to be. Considering his failed marriage and his new relationship with a woman named Nancy (Idina Menzel), it's easy to see where he's coming from. Real life is nowhere near as simple as life in Andalasia, a place where Giselle is allowed to be naïve and trusting.
  
  As far as Prince Edward is concerned, he follows Giselle into Manhattan and begins his heroic search. He's just as naïve about our world--he mistakes a television for a magic mirror and a bus is a foul metal beast, and he believes he can unsheathe his sword at will. He also speaks in typical Prince Charming lingo, his words boastful and one-tracked. And much like Giselle, he, too, will break into song for no apparent reason. He's accompanied by a Pip, a chipmunk who has lost his Andalasian ability to speak English. Pip constantly tries to warn Edward about Nathaniel (Timothy Spall), Queen Narissa's sniveling weasel of a henchman. Under the guise of being helpful, he does whatever he can to steer Edward in the wrong direction, and most of the time, he succeeds. Will Edward find Giselle? Will they share True Love's Kiss and live happily ever after? Or is her relationship with Robert is more complex than she would like it to be?
  
  As you can probably tell, this film has fun toying with the classic formula of the Disney fairy tale, the most prominent being "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." So many of its plot devices are spoofed in "Enchanted," from the love struck young maiden to the wicked queen to the brave prince. Yes, even the poisoned apple is reused, and I think it's obvious which characters are involved in that regard. But there are other elements of parody at work here, not the least of which is music composed by Alan Menken. Menken is known for scoring a number of Disney's films during its late twentieth century renaissance: "The Little Mermaid"; "Beauty and the Beast"; "Aladdin"; "Pocahontas"; "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"; "Hercules." Given this track record, I can't think of anyone better suited for the job.
  
  And then there's the final fifteen minutes, which features an impressive computer-animated dragon; a story like this always ends with a climactic fight between the hero and the enemy, and the hero is always supposed to rescue the enemy's captive. But just who is the hero in "Enchanted"? Who is the enemy's captive? The answers aren't all that surprising, but they still make for something entertaining. That's pretty much the way the entire film works--"Enchanted" is a film that's perfectly aware of what it wants to accomplish, and it pokes fun at itself while simultaneously paying homage to the formulas Disney films have followed. Thank goodness it has a sense of humor; this kind of storytelling could only work for so long before starting to get silly.
  
  

• Snow White Gets a Taste of the Big Apple

  
  By A3EE0H0NWQ9QVL on 2007-11-25
  In `Enchanted' two worlds collide: The real world and the animated world. This has been done before. We've seen Tom and Jerry tap dance along with Gene Kelly, and we certainly experienced this fusion in 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' and later with 'Space Jam'. This time the two worlds are separate, but they meet into one another. As if pop-up books spring characters from children's fantasy stories and brought them live to the modern day world. How would we react? Just the way they do in the movie. People in New York City would wince at Shakespearean actors on the loose and in their way during a busy work day. Much like they did in the movie `Elf' Elf (Infinifilm Edition) with Will Ferrell and James Caan, only better. And as it is with that recent Christmas classic, the meeting is meant to make the world we know a better place. That's why the enchantment works so well.
  
  If you want to bring wide-eyed innocence to the screen, I know of few better ways than to have Amy Adams (`Junebug') play Giselle, a Snow White or Cinderella figure who escapes the evil witch, Narissa (here wonderfully performed by Susan Sarandon in a role we're used to seeing Glen Close or Tilda Swinton play) from the magic kingdom, Andalasia. She's betrothed to Prince Edward (bka "Charming" or James Marsden of `Hairspray` fame) and on the run through a starry expanse that reminded me very closely of a portal used in one of the later `Myst` games. ("Destiny" is his horse, which is to say there isn't too much subtlety here.) And, as each character goes through the symbolically significant portal, a man-hole cover, one easily forgets that this trajectory is a close reading of the focal point of 'Being John Malkovich'. Nevermind all this, however, for no matter how familiar certain elements may feel, the thrust of this film is certainly fresh and inviting.
  
  The witch wants to dissolve their nuptials and has the portly Nathaniel to chase her down. On the allies' side is a chipmunk messenger who has good intentions, but a poor success rate with only charades as his communication method. Running into Giselle is Robert (Patrick Dempsey) a jaded single father who is a prosperous, but floundering attorney. She needs him to shelter her from the rude awakening of a rainstorm on a bad side of town, and he needs her to give him a new outlook in life. He's about to give his hand to Nancy, much to the chagrin of daughter, Morgan.
  
  One of the great merits of this movie is how they suspend our disbelief to the events that occur. Marsden, Adams, and Sarandon bring the otherworld with them in ways that preclude any notions that over acting prima donnas are spilling their way into Central Park and beyond. Particularly Adams' wide-eyed innocence sets up that her displacement can bring real joy and revitalization from the past without seeming facile or saccharine. (Or when it is shown to be wildly unreal, there's plenty of good humor to poke fun of it all when they break into song.)
  
  Once Narissa catches up with them, we begin to see that there really is decency we can draw upon in our own world and a menace that exists in their world that is worse than our own. Innoculated with chivalry and romance, all the dirt and grime of city life are given a face lift along with our spirits. Just like 'Across the Universe' Across the Universe before it, 'Enchanted' is an experience of love and music transcending the dingy mean-spiritedness that is all too often identified as reality.
  
  

• A 'Different' Disney Film : May or May Not Work for Some

  
  By A2ULSA0IRUE09E on 2008-02-26
  Watching "Enchanted" reminded me of all the wonderful Disney movies I watched growing up - but there was this cloying, nagging feeling that something didn't quite work in this one. I think the problem was the last twenty minutes. The entire ballroom scene was way too 'staged' and no one seemed in the least bit 'dramatic' - which is weird because they spent the whole film being way too dramatic and hamming their lines every other minute. The last bits played out so weakly that any strengths of the film were automatically undermined, and it became a 3-Star movie in the process.
  
  The first hour though, is superb. The opening animation is 'new and improved' Disney, while retaining an old-world charm. Of course, the lead actress is beautiful (but not too beautiful) and she has a squirelly-bug-eyed charm that is both goofy and infectious. Patrick Dempsey is of course as superb as ever, and James Marsden plays his Prince act with his trademark deadpan expressions (which actually work here). The songs however, didn't quite stand out. No wonder all three song nominations lost out at the Oscars. "How Will I Know", which they sing at the park stuck out as being out of tune and extremely irritating.
  
  The standout scene is when Gisele looks out her NYC apartment window and sings out for the 'animals' to help her out. Rodents, cockroaches, bugs soon fill the house - and they actually help her do some work! The audience I saw this with giggled like little girls throughout this extended segment.
  
  "Enchanted" might go down as a future Disney classic, and it certainly is innovative, but it lacked a certain something for me to give it four or five stars. At the end, and especially after the horrendously boring climax of the dragon-slaying (which ends very suddenly and tepidly), one is left with a sense of 'it could have been so much better'. Disney really pulled out the stops for this one, but it doesn't quite come together.
  
  Three Stars.
  
  

• Dime-Store Misogyny At Its Very Best

  
  By AAXD9C8HU4QTA on 2008-04-19
  First, let me say that I am not a man-hater or necessarily a feminist. I'm all for equality, though. I'm not a troll, either. I'm not trying to be inflammatory. And no, I am not a hippy all stinky with patchouli and wet wool, and I am NOT voting for Hillary Clinton.
  
  I just finished watching the movie "Enchanted," which is one of Disney's new, modern, feel-good romances, starring Amy Adams and that guy who was cute in the 80s, then got plastic surgery and is now on Grey's Anatomy.
  
  The movie started great. The princess, a total moron, falls for a prince, who is also a total moron, simply because they heard each other singing in the forest. It was a great setup. Then they all become "real," and are suddenly in Manhattan.
  
  The Grey's Anatomy Yutz (let's just call him G.A.Y.), of course, falls instantly for the vacuous princess, and his fiance, who is an intelligent woman with (GASP) a career, sort of figures it out, but is okay with the whole thing.
  
  Career women don't mind being tossed aside, and in the name of Disney-brand "true love," she ends up falling for the stupid, effeminate prince. Because surely, she must secretly want to be "the man" in the relationship.
  
  In the finale, the queen, played by Susan Sarandon, turns into a dragon and is portrayed as an evil uber-bitch as she wants to keep her crown rather than leave it to her Forrest-Gumpy stepson, the effeminate prince. So she gets killed (to great cheers from the imagined audience), G.A.Y. of course ends up with the moron Amy Adams princess, and the effeminate prince gets the "smart," but oddly emotionless former G.A.Y. fiance by default. Everybody's happy, and the credits roll.
  
  Am I the only one who was actually REALLY upset by this ending? I am actually still in a messy, slobbery rage over yet another misogynist-disguised-as-moralistic movie in which being a woman completely dependent on some man swooping in to SAVE her is the best thing to be?
  
  That "true-love's kiss" is the most powerful thing in the world?
  
  ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
  
  It's 2008, and yet everyone in the world (even outside Taliban-controlled areas of the world) seems to think it's the middle ages as far as women are concerned.
  
  According to Disney, these are the rules:
  -If we women are meek, stupid, frail and pretty, we are in GREAT shape. We will get a man, who will make our lives complete.
  -If we have brains in our heads, have a job, and rational perspectives on things, it's perfectly okay to just toss us aside in favor of someone who needs to be saved.
  
  Just because I don't know how to make my own clothes, and I know how to form a thought in my brain, and actually, gods forbid EXPRESS my thoughts and opinions, I may as well be a dragon to be pushed off the top of a freaking building.
  
  Susan Sarandon, who has always chosen her roles well in the past, should be ashamed of herself. Same with Amy Adams, who was BRILLIANT in "Junebug." Same with every single person who does anything for Disney. And shame on me for watching this film.
  
  If you are a woman or know a woman who is even SLIGHTLY above average intelligence, don't bother putting yourself in the path of this movie.
  
  This movie makes me feel completely worthless. If this is an expression of what the world is like, I don't want to live in it. I am ashamed to be a human. I wish there was some sort of magic laser that could transform me into some other creature than human. I wish I had an ice pick. If I did, I swear to all that is holy that I would lobotomize this demoralizing movie out of my head. If it failed and I died, it would still be worth it.
  
  If anyone mentions "Disney" to me in anything other than a derogatory manor, I will smack them across their face.
  
  
• Your Little Princesses are going to love this film
  By A3AVJCB1ZD6ZY5 on 2007-11-21
  In the Kingdom of Andalasia, an evil Queen reigned. Queen Nerissa did everything she could to keep her stepson Prince Edward from finding the woman of his dreams so she could remain Queen forever. For the most part, she was successful getting him to troll hunt.
  
  Giselle also dwelt in Andalasia in an enchanted bower in a tree with her animal friends to serve her. She sang, sewed, and dreamed creating an image of her ideal man--the one who would come and give her the Kiss of True Love.
  
  One day, Prince Edward heard Giselle's song and lo--they began to sing together. He gathered up Giselle and brought her to the castle where they would marry that very day.
  
  As Giselle is making the final wedding preparations, an old hag comes to her and offers her a wedding day wish in a magical well. Giselle reluctantly accepts and as she makes her wish to live happily ever after, the hag (Queen Nerissa) pushes her down into the seemingly bottomless well.
  
  Nerissa comments as Giselle is falling screaming into the abyss that she's sending her someplace where there is no happily ever after. That place turns out to be New York City.
  
  Yes, our fair Giselle comes out of a manhole in the middle of New York City traffic. Fortunately, she does meet some kind people who help her--and she does find her Prince. While this isn't exactly a Fractured Fairy Tale, "Enchanted" is a delightful film for fairy tale lovers of all ages. My favorite character of the whole cast is the chipmunk.
  
  
• A delightfully fractured fairy tale!
  By AZCDCO6KK2T81 on 2008-05-29
  This film is a delight from beginning to end. It really is a film the whole family can enjoy. My 11 year-old was "enchanted" by it, my 16 year old son was laughing hysterically, and my wife and I were never bored once.
  
  This film falls into the "fractured fairly tale" genre much like The Princess Bride which is a difficult genre to produce successfully. To add to the difficulty level this film also tackles the switch over from cartoon world to the real one. "Enchanted" succeeds here as well. The cartoon world is a tribute in style to the old fashioned cartoons we all grew up with, but the comedy and approach of the cartoon component works and is in funny balance to the real world scenes.
  
  Amazon and other reviewers have done a good job summarizing this film and with the traditional elements of most Disney classic cartoons, there isn't much I can add here, so here is my hits and misses approach:
  
  The Misses:
  
  (1) The ending goes a little over the top with effects and seems a bit out of place, although it's still fun and interesting.
  (2) The songs are good, even above average in spots, but not nearly as good as prior Disney efforts.
  
  The Hits:
  
  (1) It's a great marriage of cartoon and real world storylines.
  (2) The film nails the fractured fairy tale genre right on the head.
  (3) The story is engaging no matter what your age is. My whole family truly loved this film.
  (4) For the genre this film has terrific acted. Amy Adams is someone anyone one of us would want to marry (or adopt). Her role of the misplaced Princess in New York City is difficult to get a handle on without grating on one's nerve, but she manages to get us to love and adore her. Patrick Dempsey is simply perfect in his role and who would ever think that James (X-Men Trilogy Marsden could sing and act so lightheartedly. Of course, Susan Saradon as the evil witch is perfectly cast and she manages to not go over-the-top as Glenn Close did as Cruella DeVille in 101 Dalmatians. The supporting cast of both familiar and unfamiliar faces are wonderful in their roles. This film is perfectly cast and makes one wonder why there isn't an Oscar category for casting as the person who did it for this film would surely have won it.
  (5) Good blend of cartoon, real world, and special effects (even if the end goes a bit wild).
  (6) The humor in this film will have you on the floor laughing until your stomach hurts. I kid you not, this film is absolutely hysterical as it pokes gentle fun as Disney's more traditionally family films. Some humor is a bit contrived in a few spots, but many seem like ad libs too.
  
  I can't speak enough good things about this film. This is one to treasure and watch with your family over and over again. I'm sure that I will always find something entertaining in this film even on my 100th viewing.
  
  Respectfully Submitted,
  Steve Hedge, May '08
  
  
  
• "Once upon a time..."
  By A3KEZLJ59C1JVH on 2007-12-12
  
  I absolutely adored this movie, and I can't believe the Walt Disney company actually made it! "Enchanted" is a hilarious film in which a classic Disney fairytale collides with modern-day New York City. Prince Edward meets his true love, Giselle, in the fairytale world of Andalasia. Unfortunately, the prince's wicked stepmother doesn't want him to get married because she will forced up to give up her position as queen. Evil Queen Narissa pushes Giselle down a magical wishing well, and the poor princess-to-be ends up in a New York City sewer (where she also ceases to be animated).
  
  Needless to say, Giselle (Amy Adams) and her fairytale mentality don't mesh well with the big city lifestyle. Fortunately, she runs into Robert (Patrick Dempsey), a kindhearted lawyer whose young daughter convinces him to lend Giselle a helping hand. Robert's kindness ends up causing a major rift between him and his girlfriend (Idina Menzel), and when Price Edward (James Marsden) finally arrives in the Big Apple to rescue his true love, Giselle realizes that her "happily ever after" story isn't all it's cracked up to be, and her heart may actually belong to someone else.
  
  This is a fantastic film that celebrates (and slightly satirizes) many classic Disney animated films, especially "Snow White" and "Sleeping Beauty." It's such a clever film, and the concept of fairytale characters walking around New York City in the year 2007 is every bit as funny to watch on-screen as you can possibly imagine. I really enjoyed the twist with Giselle's happily ever after ending, which I didn't see coming at first but suited the film perfectly. "Enchanted" also benefits from an outstanding cast. Dempsey and Marsden are excellent, and Susan Sarandon delivers an entertaining performance in the role of Queen Narissa (although I wish she'd been given a bit more screen time). However, this movie belongs to Amy Adams, who is absolutely brilliant and deserves an Academy Award nomination for her performance. She is amazing!
  
  Overall, "Enchanted" is a very enchanting movie that deserves a place of honor in the Disney vault! Children and adults will adore this film.
  
  
• A Fairly Fair(y) Tale
  By A139ZF7CJVVTJU on 2008-01-21
  WARNING: SPOILERS
  
  The twist behind "Enchanted" is pretty catchy: what happens when the artificial sweetener of your average Disney-animated princess movie is flung tiara-first into The Real World? Giselle, the impossibly wide-eyed heroine of Andalasia, accomplishes all of her daily chores with the aid of helpful woodland creatures, and most of her woes are washed away just by singing a song. Stick her in present-day New York, though, and she's just another passing weirdo, although with better hair and skin.
  
  Writer Bill Kelly has tried the fish-out-of-water scheme before (Blast From the Past) with mixed results. And his latest offering (Premonition) was an equally befuddled story about a woman who can never figure out what day she's living in. The guy has some intriguing ideas, I'll grant him that, but his execution needs serious work.
  
  With "Enchanted," he's come closest to hitting his mark. The syrupy-silly sensibility of the movie is perfect for catering to kids, and although there are a few hide-behind-mom's-elbow moments, they're not really any worse than the things you might catch in Sleeping Beauty or Bambi. Giant trolls, evil sorceresses, and blood-thirsty dragons. Considering the bulk of the flick takes place in the Big Apple, it's not so disturbing to find out that at least three of the littler apples are poisoned.
  
  The only real problem with the film is its inconsistency, its many pulled punches. Giselle is played with almost annoying perfection by Amy Adams; her princess-to-be is so floofy and precious that she is suitably grating, and at the start of the film, most of the people who meet her think she's four sheets to the wind. This includes Robert (Patrick Dempsey), the divorce lawyer who has the (mis?)fortune to save her from having to spend a night on the streets. There's a fantastic bit when Giselle awakens in the morning to Robert's sty of an apartment; in true Disney-land fashion, Giselle calls for help from New York's resident wildlife, and she cleans the place with a cadre of roaches, rats, and pigeons.
  
  This stuff is spot on, but the spots start moving. As Giselle moves through the film, New York responds to her less and less like the "real world" of the tagline, and more and more like Disney's hoped-for version of a big, crazy town. Robert starts the movie suitably annoyed and weirded out by Giselle's crazy antics (she ruins his drapes, puts him on the outs with his girlfriend of five years, and disrupts his business practice), but -- with very little coaxing at all -- in the next scene he's glibly accepting the grand, spontaneous musical numbers and Giselle's unsettling ability to get random birds to do her bidding. Keep the musical numbers, by all means, and leave in her Dolittle panache, of course. That's half of the recipie, right? So where's the "real world" I was promised?
  
  It fades away fast. The movie starts out as a cute, tongue-in-cheek self-satire of the Snow White formula, but then it quickly decays into a (still very) cute (but also blase) embrace of the very thing it was riffing on. The irony, after all, is the richest thing about the premise. By the time Giselle and Robert fall in love with each other (just because they're supposed to, it seems), the only ironic thing about the movie is that it apparantly just duped itself.
  
  It's a great kid's flick, don't get me wrong, but it's not exactly what it wants to be, which is too bad, because its aspirations are pretty fun. Watching the honey-bright Adams sing to tub-scrubbing roaches is a treat in itself. I get the feeling, though, that at the end of the movie, if Giselle had sung her trademark "come hither" warble, she would've been greeted by cuddly bears and squeaky-voice fawns, instead of scuzzy rats and birds. It's too bad; without the scuzz, this is just another fairy tale.
  
  
• "It's like you escaped from a Hallmark card or something."
  By AC1K4OQOZ90RS on 2008-01-22
  Leave your cynicism outside the theater and enjoy "Enchanted," starring the talented Amy Adams. She is captivating as Giselle, the lovely, wholesome, and naïve young woman who is convinced that all she needs to make her life complete is her one true love. Alas, Prince Edward, aka "Prince Charming," has a rather unpleasant stepmother, Queen Narissa, played with raucous glee by Susan Sarandon. Narissa wants to thwart the lovers so that she can keep the throne for herself. She hatches a diabolical scheme in which she sends Giselle to a far-off place where innocent people are eaten for lunch--New York City.
  
  "Enchanted" adheres to the conventions of the "fish out of water" genre, which was used successfully in such films as "Elf" and "Splash." Giselle emerges from a manhole wearing her tiara and an ornate wedding gown. Luckily for her, she runs into a kindhearted divorce lawyer, Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey), who is bewildered and bewitched by this strange creature. Besides having a ridiculously optimistic outlook on life and a sickeningly sweet disposition, Giselle has a way with animals (including rats, pigeons, and cockroaches--this is New York, after all) who help her clean house and run errands. Robert's daughter, Morgan, is soon smitten with Giselle; this sweet and pretty lady represents everything that a little girl dreams of in a mother. Robert's girlfriend, Nancy, who has a more down-to-earth and practical disposition than Giselle, is less than entranced by this interloper whom she senses may be a rival for Robert's affection.
  
  The director, Kevin Lima, wisely encouraged his performers to play their parts straight, with nary a wink at the audience. Bill Kelly's witty screenplay pokes fun at such fairy tale clichés as the wicked stepmother with her arsenal of poisoned apples and the plastic, square-jawed prince gallantly wooing his fair damsel. Among the many amusing visuals: Giselle uses curtains and other fabrics that she finds in Robert's house to make cutesy, off-the-shoulder dresses; a chipmunk accompanies Giselle to New York and keeps popping up in odd locations to warn her of the danger that she's in; Giselle strolls in Central Park with Robert and everyone bursts out in merry song.
  
  Amy Adams is adorable as she tries to adjust to an urban environment as well as the realities of modern romance. James Marsden is an appropriately vapid Prince Edward and Susan Sarandon camps it up as the vicious queen. The gorgeous Patrick Dempsey nicely evolves from a bitter realist to a man falling under the spell of a beautiful and soft-hearted woman. The music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz are charming, and the animation is effectively eye-catching. "Enchanted" is great fun. Kids, take your parents!
  
  
  
• Great for Mother and Daughter. (And just about anyone else)
  By AN8M401S8Y6DA on 2008-04-25
  Enchanted takes the concept of Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Vista Series) by blending fantasy with reality. It starts as an old school animated fairy tale where Giselle meets her prince, but is soon vanquished to the real world by his evil step mother, where there are no happy endings, or are there?
  
  Mothers watching this with their daughters will see a mix of classic fairytales from their childhoods such as Cinderella (Two-Disc Special Edition), Sleeping Beauty (Two-Disc Platinum Edition), and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney Special Platinum Edition), with one song reminiscent ofThe Little Mermaid (Two-Disc Platinum Edition) and a touch of Pretty Woman (15th Anniversary Special Edition), just the shopping part. Enchanted is sure to bring different generations of film goers together to share stories of their own.
  
  While the film pays homage to these classics it manages to be original and give it's own twist to these tales by empowering women and showing them as being more independent, all while putting a modern day spin on the fairytales of old. The result was enchanting.
  
  I mention moms and daughters but the film can be enjoyed by anyone of any age, that's just the scenario that came to mind.
  
  
• Review of DVD and (lack) of Extras
  By A8S11VP9Z36D6 on 2008-03-07
  "Enchanted" (2007) has to be one of my favorite Disney movies in years; it is a return to the type of classic movies that were produced under Walt's supervision, but it also acknowledges the times we live in without being too negative. Right off the bat, I was amazed to be able to watch a film that had no profanity and other than the topic of divorce, hardly any adult situations. Of course, there is some 'wink-wink' adult humor that will go over the head of children, but even that is pretty tame. How refreshing to know that an excellent movie can be made without looking like the 10pm news or a tawdry reality show. PLENTY of fun references to vintage Disney films, and a number of cameos by some Disney favorites.
  
  The film begins as a typical classic Disney animated film would; Julie Andrews narrates the story of Prince Edward (James Marsden) from Andalasia, who must find his true love to marry, and his evil stepmother Narissa (Susan Sarandon), who does not want to step down from her throne and will do whatever she can to thwart Edward's search. Enter Giselle (Amy Adams), a maiden of the forest with plenty of animal friends. She too is searching for her true love, and through song and fate, Edward & Giselle meet, fall in love, but are separated by Narissa, who sends Giselle out of the toon world and into the harsh reality of present day New York City. While Edward and Giselle attempt to reunite, a hardened divorce attorney, Robert (Patrick Dempsey) & his daughter attempt to help her along the way. Giselle's positive attitude and belief in true love has a profound effect on Robert, who has apparently been embittered by his own divorce (what actually happened to his first wife is somewhat nebulous, and basically left open for interpretation). Robert is already seeing someone; Nancy (Idina Menzel) is the romantic girl he has been dating for the last five years. No plot spoilers here; you will have to see how it all comes together.
  
  This film rests on the able shoulders of Amy Adams; in the role of Princess Giselle, she could have easily done a parody of Snow White, Cinderella, and the other Disney Princesses. However, she brings warmth, charm, humor, and great emotion to her character; she is totally believeable. James Marsden again shows off his tremendous vocal talent, and as a toon Prince, he gives a letter perfect performance. Although he is a little one-dimensional at times, it works perfectly with the plot and how the movie progresses. Dempsey also does a wonderful job in his role, with just the right amount of bitterness; it is very apparent that he underneath he believes in romance but what happened with #1 has forced him to change. The only weak link in the cast is Sarandon, which is a shame. She is one of our finest actresses, and yet her characterization just misses the mark for me; she lacks the power and evil that we expect from a Disney Villain; in the climax of the film, she almost appears to be yawning through her part. It is the power and force of a Disney Villain that makes their "fall" so enjoyable; evil must be very evil for the triumph of good to be truly satisfying. Still, it hardly detracts from the overall product. The songs in this film will stay with you after you watch the movie...in a good way. Rarely have I immediately been overcome with the desire to purchase the soundtrack from a film in recent years. Overall, a definite 5 stars for this movie.
  
  The DVD is a different story; although there are extras, it does seem like Disney skimped on them. The highlight is the behind-the-scenes look, "FANTASY COMES TO LIVE," at 3 sequences: "Happy Working Song," "That's How You Know," and the Ballroom finale sequence. Seeing the layering of the CGI effects and Amy Adams having to "act" to nothing ("Happy Working Song") gives an even greater appreciation of her talent. You will also learn that one of the dancers from "Mary Poppins" has a cameo in the "That's How You Know" number. There is also an "extra," PIP'S PREDICAMENT: A POP-UP ADVENTURE, that tells the tale of Pip's alerting Edward that Giselle was no longer in Andalasia. MAYBE very young children will find this amusing, but personally, it was a little on the lame side. There is also a "Hidden Mickey" that is basically a promotion for the Bluray version of "Enchanted." The deleted scenes are fun to watch, as is the blooper reel. Neither are very long though. The Carrie Underwood music video for "Ever Ever After" is also included.
  
  I am sure (or at least I hope) there will be a 2-disc special edition in the near future. So, for this 2008 Widescreen edition, I give it 4 stars instead of 5 due to the lack of extras. The movie itself still packs a wallop!
  
  
• Disney Making Fun of Itself? Wow! Imagine That!
  By A2ATWKOFJXRRR1 on 2007-12-02
  Let me make it immediately clear that I'm not a big fan of Disney films. Most (if not all) of them are overly-schmaltzy, teach kids nothing about the real world, and are so simple a chimp could follow them. But my twin 19-year-olds (boy and a girl) wanted to check out this latest mouseketeer event. It isn't hard to imagine someone of my nature grudgingly slapping down hard-earned cash then grumpily sitting with an overpriced and oversized box of popcorn, ready to be bored out of my mind and intellectually insulted.
  
  What I got instead was a big shock. I'd obviously seen the ads for the film on television and thought, "Ugh. Another no-brainer." My initial concerns seemed justified as the film started and was quickly assaulted with the 2-dimensional animation we've all seen during early Disney tellings. I sank further into my chair, grumbling, "This is super-lame." But as the film progressed, and the animation gave way to live action characters, I began to realize that Disney was ...poking fun at itself? No. It couldn't be, could it? But yes, they did, and they did it right!
  
  This is a melting pot of animation, live-action, and animation within live-action that is seldom seen. That's a nice score for Disney. Added to this is the retelling of old fables that've become part of our movie history. A combination of Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and several other commonly seen films are incorporated into ENCHANTED to give it a familiar yet equally unique story.
  
  Amy Adams (Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby) stars as Giselle, a soon-to-be princess recently swept off her feet (literally) by Prince Edward (James Marsden, X-Men); it's noteworthy to mention this all takes place in the early animation portions of the film. But Prince Edward's mother, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon, Elizabethtown) doesn't want to give up her queenly title and throws Giselle down a "wishing well" on her wedding day. Giselle anti-magically reemerges near Time's Square in New York (we've now entered the live action portion of the film). Searching high and low for her castle and her future groom, Giselle quickly learns that New York is no fantasy world. Jewelry is stolen off her person by the homeless, her dress quickly becomes soiled, rain drenches her, and no one is saying friendly things or breaking into happy song.
  
  Divorce attorney Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey, Freedom Writers) and his eight-year-old daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey) are on their way home via cab when they discover poor Giselle. She (again) literally falls into Robert's lap and he and his daughter feel pity for this seemingly deranged woman and take her home with them to help her find a way home (via cab, subway, etc.). Robert is less than thrilled about having an attractive woman in the house as he is prepared to pop the question to his longtime girlfriend Angie (Samantha Ivers, Inside Man). But Giselle falls asleep on Robert's sofa and he's forced to let her stay the night. Come morning new discoveries await Robert and his daughter. Giselle, who can normally call up all the cute and fuzzy animals of the forest to help her with household chores, decides to do the same here. But her sing-song doesn't bring cuddly rabbits and dainty deer. She's in New York City, and when her enchanting voice reaches the creatures of this land, they come in the form of cockroaches, sewer rats, and pigeons. They still help her clean up Robert's apartment, but when Robert awakens, he finds the invasion of his home by insects and rodents too much and shushes them out of his plush home. He also finds that Giselle has made a new outfit for herself out of his expensive curtains. At wits end, Robert takes Giselle to work and thrusts her needs onto the company secretary who can't find out where her home is let alone who she is.
  
  In the meantime, the now unanimated Prince Edward comes to the real New York City, too, and finds it terribly difficult to locate his lost love. With him comes an assistant of the queen, Nathaniel (Timothy Spall, Harry Potter), who's job it is to make sure he and Giselle never meet up. Failing that, he's supposed to give Giselle a poisoned apple (in the tradition of Snow White).
  
  When all fails the queen, she's forced to come to the real world, too, and does so with frightening ferocity. But can even her powers stand against true love's first kiss (a theme that runs throughout the movie)?
  
  It isn't necessarily the fairy tale items that grab movie-goers but the failing of those items by those that come from such a land where things exist and are forced into a land where reality is more brutal. The reverse obviously becomes true, too, as those who live a hardened life in the real world come to accept that having a bit of fantasy fun and believing in the unbelievable can have overwhelmingly positive results on your life, love, and your happily ever after.
  
  The movie is funny beyond mention, too, with some perfectly executed scenes (including a dance sequence in Central Park, watching Prince Edward break into song only to be stopped by bicyclists plowing into him, Giselle's continued clothing designs by utilizing various items in Robert's home, Prince Edward believing a television to be a kind of magical looking glass, just to name a few).
  
  The film is touching and, in the end, pretty predictable. But that didn't stop young and old from applauding when the film ended. I even found myself clapping a few times. Wow. Imagine that.
  
  
• Saying This Movie is Enchanting is Just Too Easy
  By A2I6MHMAZZDCRX on 2008-03-21
  Giselle (Amy Adams) is your standard, run of the mill animated woman. Breaks out into song? Check. Carries on conversations with animals? Check. Dreaming of true love's kiss? Check.
  
  Prince Edward of Andalasia (James Marsden) is also dreaming of finding his true love. At the orders of his evil step mother, the queen (Susan Sarandon), he is kept occupied chasing trolls. That is until one day when he overhears Giselle singing. Its love at first sight, and the two plan to wed the next day.
  
  Step Mommie Dearest doesn't take this lying down, however. Disguising herself as an old hag, she pushes Giselle into a "magic wishing well" that will really destroy all her dreams by sending her to some place where dreams never come true - New York City.
  
  Meanwhile, there's Robert (Patrick Dempsey). Robert is a single father living in New York City who is about to propose to his girlfriend of five years. A divorce lawyer, he is bitter and cynical.
  
  When Giselle and Robert meet accidentally, Robert tries to get out of helping Giselle, but he can't seem to get rid of her. He can't decide what to make of this strange woman. And Giselle certainly doesn't get him or the real world.
  
  But Prince Edward isn't taking the disappearance of his sweetheart lying down. He sets out through the magic well to find Giselle. As more and more fairytale characters keep coming to our world, what will happen? Will any of these characters ever be the same again?
  
  This is such a unique film. It starts out with traditional 2-D animation. But as the fairytale characters enter New York, they become flesh and blood people. And that's when the spoofing really starts.
  
  See, the characters expect the rules of their world to apply to ours. As a result, this movie does spoof certain Disney movie moments (and there are lots of references to those animated movies if you know what to look for). Yet the movie spoofs the genre in general more then any specific story, which makes things work well. In fact, one of my favorite moments was Giselle singing "Happy Little Working Song" as the animals in Central Park help her clean Robert's apartment. Yet this movie has its serious moments as it compares real life and fairytales. It never gets preachy and is very well done. The plot is fairly predictable, but it is a fairytale, so that's no surprise.
  
  Robert and Giselle, as the two main characters, are the most developed. The others just aren't given any emotional development. And that's not a slight against the actors. Everyone does a great job. The animated characters are delicious over the top in our world, but it never gets annoying and works well. The animal characters usually look pretty realistic, but occasionally do look computer animated. Either way, it never really bothered me.
  
  I wish I could stop here, but I can't. While this movie doesn't go overboard with them, there are a couple adult references thrown in. Yes, they are funny. But they aren't exactly subtle. They may lead to some questions after the film is over, so be forewarned.
  
  Having said that, this is a movie that parents and kids can certainly enjoy together. It's got a great theme and plenty of laughs and action. This movie will entertain anyone who watches it.
  
  
• "Someday my.. . . ." -Well, you know
  By A1WUMTJOASEL5F on 2008-03-19
  It's Roger Rabbit in reverse!!! And yet, it also reminded me of Miracle On 34th St. with the magical figure visiting, and bringing new found love to a family without dreams. Amy Adams is the star of this movie, make no mistakes, but she receives alot of help from a very energetic supporting cast, and the random musical numbers only add spark to her wonderful thoughful performance.
  I liked the fact that Prince Charming, played by James Marsden, appeared briefly on a big city bus, with the Superman logo clearly visible behind him on a billboard sign, of which James starred in Superman Returns. Accident? Whatever.
  If you don't catch yourself imitating Amy, with her princess body language, than you are definitely a watcher in life.
  There are four real princesses I could find in Amy. 1.)Snow White at the beginning, with getting the critters to round up. 2.) Aurora, with spinning in a penthouse office lobby rug. 3.) Cinderella, with losing her shoe towards the end. 4.) Ariel, for simply looking like her.
  Susan Sarandon is extremely campy, with accent on Snow White's evil queen and transformed hag.
  And the movie just moves with all these elements. Pop the popcorn, and enjoy.
  
  
• Enchanted Movie Review
  By A2MYUI8IT6UBUU on 2007-11-21
  A bewitching idea that starts with gallant success, Disney's newest movie "Enchanted" is a blend of traditional animation and live action that is sure to delight the younger audiences. The initial setup is so fantastically silly that the crabbiest of folks are bound to melt under the numbing gaze of Amy Adams naively flirty eyes and the reality-infused fairyland events and their concomitantly humorous circumstances. But the love triangle, the focus on separation of reality and fantasy, and a fearsome dragon are predicaments that the film's reality aspects struggle to smoothly resolve, especially when fantasy was needed to instigate them in the first place.
  
  The evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) becomes fearful of losing her kingdom of Andalasia to her stepson Prince Edward (James Marsden), should he ever find true love. When Edward suddenly announces his wedding with newfound beauty Giselle (Amy Adams), the wrathful sorceress throws her into a wishing well that transports her to present-day Manhattan. Completely contrary to the carefree, song-and-dance lifestyle of her colorful, happy home, Giselle is greeted with skepticism and unkind faces in New York as she desperately tries to seek help returning to her castle. Prince Edward learns of her disappearance, and jumps down the wishing well himself, aided by footservant Nathaniel (Timothy Spall), to rescue his true love. Giselle meets Robert (Patrick Dempsey), the only one who is amicable enough to help her, but he quickly finds that her cartoon-fantasy lifestyle is destroying the stability of his big-city life. When Narissa discovers that Giselle is dangerously close to rescue, she visits New York herself to ensure that she'll never return to the magical kingdom of Andalasia.
  
  The first half of Enchanted is exactly that - enchanting. Amy Adams wide-eyed innocent princess is dumped into the real world of New York where she is subjected to the harshness of reality. Basically, reality sucks. What's so enjoyable is the hilarious naivety she exudes when dealing with people not of the cartoon world. Upon her meeting with Robert, she seeks a grassy meadow or a hollow tree to sleep in, she continually breaks out into fully choreographed songs and dance, and she summons the help of real-life rodents to help her do household cleaning - including rats, flies and cockroaches instead of cute little mice, birds and fawns. Adams is a constant delight to watch and Enchanted wouldn't have amounted to much without her. Similarly, Edwards entertainingly fights hulking metal dragons (city buses) and masters the use of a magic mirror (a TV set) in his quest to save Giselle.
  
  The second half of the film falls short due to the many conflicts that arise from mixing reality and fantasy when they are so clashed by live-action and animation. The introduction of many of the characters is as cartoons in a traditionally animated world and when thrust into the live-action New York, the script is unable to satisfactorily remove them. To further complicate matters, the love triangle between Giselle, Edward and Robert halts much of the later fantasy and comedy elements, and when the dragon finally appears, it's evident that the younger audiences will be the only ones still wrapped up in all of the silliness. Ultimately, charm is eventually sacrificed for absurdity.
  
  Susan Sarandon's performance as the evil queen Narissa is the most over-the-top character, even painfully noticeable in a film that is clearly challenging plausibility. A poison apple plot makes an appearance, as does countless references to the most popular Disney animated features. Nathaniel's supporting character is appropriate, although particularly generic, and the computer-animated chipmunk serves as little more than comic relief - although the audience is mainly forced to pity him.
  
  Director Kevin Lima manages to squeeze in a shopping spree and a showy King's Ball, but as the end draws near, "the place where there are no happily ever afters" is destined for a predictably happy ending. While we wouldn't have wanted it to end in any other way, returning things to the way they were is utterly impossible, and the epilogue-styled afterwards is a bit too neat and tidy and unreasonably resolute. The film is a lot of fun for the audience it was intended for, and as a side effect, quite entertaining for adults, provided you can ignore the ridiculousness of the last half-hour.
  
  - Mike Massie
  
  
  
• Mom Forced Me to See It, Went to See It Again
  By A30IP5D5DLHRPA on 2007-12-05
  I'll be blunt, I'm a stereotypical, young, male college student that enjoys films like Red Dawn, Rambo, The Rock and Aladdin. In other words, you would NEVER expect me to go to the movie theatre, fork over X amount of money to go see Disney's Enchanted. It was Thanksgiving and I was at my Mom's place away from college and she wanted to see Enchanted while my brother and I wanted to go see Hitman. Needless to say, I lost the coin toss.
  
  I went to the theatre and realized my friend John and I were the only males in there that wasn't a grandpa taking his grandchildren or a dad taking his daughters. I got lots of looks from the audience and felt quite embarrassed. HOWEVER, throughout the movie I think John and I laughed the hardest and not because we hated it but because we genuinely enjoyed it. I left the theatre feeling like my money was well spent and later went back to see it again.
  
  One of the emerging trends in Disney films is the inclusion of adult popular culture references in order to keep them from falling asleep or wishing seppuku since they are the ones forking over the money. Enchanted had numerous references to past Disney films from Snow White, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and even Cinderella. It was enough to keep my interest perked and my laughter on key.
  
  The story is pretty simple, a cartoonish damsel in distress is banished to New York by the evil step-mother and the hilarity of culture clash commences (could be worse, she could've been sent to Canada eh?). The damsel randomly breaks out in song much to the bewilderment of others, finds animals to clean house and makes dresses out of the most... off-the-wall things.
  
  It's a good mixture of Disney magical adventures, adults humor (but not too vulgar), popular culture adventure and elements that actually make it a family film. I was happy to spend money to see it again and I recommend this to all Disney fans, families and any popular culture fans. A 92% overall.
  
  
• Enchanting
  By AUTBHG6070SL4 on 2007-12-10
  This movie proves that Disney doesn't take itself too seriously, at least not all the time.
  
  I'm sure you've seen a bunch of those movies, all vaguely the same, with some beautiful princess and some dashing prince. They seek each other out for True Love, overcoming great hardships through derring-do and gratuitous bursts of song. What the True Lovers lack in the way of everyday pragmatics, they more than make up for impractical clothing.
  
  Now dump that ethereal belief in frilly gowns and eternal romance into the rain-soaked lap of a New York divorce lawyer. The hope of eternal passion should simply die under the legal eye of a man whose job is to end marriages, and its corpse get trampled into the city's grunge. Instead, we see a spectacular satire on the Disney themes. Even the princess's magical command of the woodland animals translates neatly into the world of urban pests, complete with a song routine that I could scarcely hear over my own laughing.
  
  Young kids might enjoy this. It features plenty of broad comedy, and most of the dangers seem mild and story-bookish enough that they're not truly threatening. There's something here for the slightly more sophisticated tweenager, too. Most inmportantly, its offers enough cleverness to reward the adult who pays for the kids to see it.
  
  -- wiredweird
  
  
• A perfect movie for kids that adults will love as well
  By A25HYPL2XKQPZB on 2008-02-05
  Enchanted is the newest wonderful movie from Disney featuring a beautiful princess, a handsome prince, an evil stepmother and a bunch of cute animal characters. And guess what, it's not a cartoon. Oh, it does start out in traditional Disney animation. Princess Giselle has finally found her true love in Prince Edward. They are set to be married, but Queen Narissa is afraid Giselle will steal her kingdom. She devices a plan to banish Gizelle from their cartoon paradise to a place where there is never a "happily ever after." Gizelle is pushed down a well and ends up in present day New York City. And this is where the real movie begins.
  
  Robert (Patrick Dempsey from "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Grey's Anatomy") comes across Giselle and thinks she is crazy, but harmless. At the urging of his daughter, he decides to give her a place to stay and rescue her from herself and New York. Giselle sees Robert's apartment is a mess and uses her "princess" powers to summon all the animals of New York City to aid her in singing and cleaning. She also has a great song and dance number in Central Park Prince Edward (James Marsden) does come to look for Giselle and he is just as out of place in New York as Giselle was. Queen Narissa isn't far behind in her quest to stop him from succeeding.
  
  I loved this movie. Amy Adams was great as Giselle. She has the cartoon princess character down perfectly. James Marsden was great too. Dempsey seemed wooden at times, but my wife loved watching him on the big screen. This movie might be scary at times for the little kids with the climax that includes a battle with a dragon. This scene almost had to be done to complete the spoof on traditional animated films, but it did take some of the momentum out of the story.
  
  This is a perfect movie for its genre. A rare movie that will capture the imagination of your kids while bringing a smile to the parents' faces. This is the kind of movie that you'll love but you must watch it knowing what kind of movie it is. It is a fairy tale for kids and a harmless spoof for adults and great fun for the entire family.
  
  
  
• Enchanted is Enchanting
  By A28OB1QLXN5BM6 on 2008-03-12
  Disney did this one right. Enchanted is fun-filled family entertainment for children of all ages. This is a new take on an old fairy tale, where the real world and the animated world collide in, you guessed it, New York City.
  
  This story is Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast all rolled into one. Think hidden cottage in the woods with woodland friends, a heroic rescue, an evil stepmother, a handsome prince, a glass slipper, an old hag, a wishing well, a poisoned apple, a grand waltz, true love's first kiss - you name it, Enchanted has it. And it all works.
  
  The live action characters are all comfortable and enjoyable in their roles. Amy Adams is a delight as the beautiful, sweet natured princess, and Susan Sarandon is brilliant as the wicked stepmother. McDreamy and James Marsden are both very entertaining in their respective roles. A surprise pleasure is the evil henchman, played by Timothy Spall, fresh from his role as Wormtail in the Harry Potter films. As these real-life animated characters break into song in the middle of Central Park, you find yourself with a smile on your face and a toe tapping foot. I think I grinned throughout the entire film.
  
  At the start of the film, our princess is living in her small hidden cottage in the woods, where every morning she calls the woodland creatures to help her get dressed and clean up. On her first morning in NYC, she does the same thing. Now just imagine what sort of "creatures" come to her from the depths of New York City. I will not spoil it for the viewer, but it is the most cringe-worthy, yet highly entertaining scene in the entire movie.
  
  Any fan of fairytales and/or Disney will love this film. It is light, fluffy, well done fun. I highly recommend it.
  
  
  
• Just Didn't Work
  By AMSB24SIL2G68 on 2008-04-06
  The idea for this movie seemed fun but the execution really fell flat. It wanted to be satirical but it just couldn't bring itself to let loose and do it. Took itself too seriously and was predictable. My whole family was disappointed. Watching Shrek 3 again would have been more entertaining.
  
  
• Disappointed
  By A2M04QJ777PXA4 on 2008-04-13
  The children watched - and enjoyed most of the show that they could understand, the singing, dancing and really cool dragon and chipmunk (the star of the show).
  
  As parents watching the show, we thought the cast were excellent, but the story was weak.
  
  I, a native New Yorker living in the West am getting pretty tired of explaining to my children (who have been to NYC twice) and neighbors, that New York and New Yorkers are NOT the way they are stereotypically portrayed on the screen. As with our Italian heritage, thank you Sopranos, not all Italians are "Family", not all Irish are drinking thugs. I have a sense of humor and can laugh easily, but these sterotypes are generally taken as real!
  
  Why is it so popular to stereotype one group of people but not another?
  
  Hmmmmmmmmmmm?
  
  It's a movie we rented, but probably won't buy.
  
  
• Enchanted Less Than Enchanting
  By A2RO40LIBUA67E on 2007-12-16
  This latest offering from Walt Disney Studios has much to recommend it and, if you happen to have a daughter still young enough to be your little princess, I think you're required to see it by Federal law. Just for the record, my 11-year-old princess loved this movie.
  
  Still, I have to say I left the theater less than enchanted.
  
  I won't waste your time explaining the plot, which has been extensively covered in all the previous reviews.
  
  The first two-thirds of the movie really are charming. Amy Adams has an extraordinary voice and plays the wide-eyed Giselle perfectly. If Heidi Klum is a faultless, real-life Jessica Rabbit, then Amy Adams gives life to a multitude of Disney Princesses. There is an extended musical interlude that has Giselle overcoming the famous (or notorious) New York cynicism in a song and dance number that includes romancing senior citizens, a country-western street minstrel (which I think would have really been hilarious, and more authentic, if the movie could have included New York's celebrated "Naked Cowboy") a Reggae Band, Mariachi Band and about a thousand Rockettes dressed as Bride and Groom. It's really the best part of the movie (for fans of musicals) and it prompted applause from me, my family and our fellow theater-goers. James Marsden (of X-Men and Hairspray fame) is rapidly becoming to the 21st century what Val Kilmer was to the 80's. I personally think, like Val Kilmer, the depth of his talent is vastly underrated, though time may (I hope) prove me wrong. Marsden can sing, dance, and, when the script calls for it, actually act. Susan Sarandon is mostly only heard and even when seen is quickly CGI'ed into a large, though strangely un-threatening, dragon. That's too bad, because in her all-to-brief appearance as the in-the-flesh evil stepmother, she proves that she can still be a sexy vixen. But maybe that's just my age showing.
  
  It was the resolution of the plot that disappointed me and, if I hadn't known better, it looked like the writers had to quickly end this movie and join the striking picket lines, abandoning several threads that could have made for a more interesting and honest ending.
  
  At the risk of spoiling the ending (if you haven't seen the movie yet - stop reading now) let me explain.
  
  Prince Edward has already ceded over to Robert (played by New York leading man stereotype Patrick Dempsey) the fact that he is not Giselle's "one true love." He's then betrayed by his stepmother, who then tries to kill everyone - and I do mean everyone.
  
  When the evil Queen finally morphs into the dragon, she leaves the Prince's sword planted in the ballroom floor, seizes Robert and climbs to the top of a skyscraper roughly the size of the Empire State Building.
  
  So who seizes the sword and saves Robert? Before you answer, consider: Prince Edward is the perfect representation of a Disney Prince. He's brave (he's spent almost his entire life capturing seven-story-tall ogres,) noble (he's just handed over the only love he's ever known to a total stranger in order to save her life,) and unafraid of taking action when the situation calls for it (forget stabbing a New York bus - he's just faced down his own mother and toppled her from the rule of Anadalusia.) Is such a man going to stand by while a mere wisp of a girl, one for whom he's sacrificed so much, takes on a gigantic dragon?
  
  Not likely.
  
  So I propose an alternative.
  
  Giselle, seeing her One True Love in mortal danger, leaps forward and struggles to pull the sword from the ballroom floor. However, seeing as how it's been planted by a giant dragon, cannot set it free. Edward, obviously struggling with his own tragic circumstance, sees her and, mustering a lifetime of courage, casts aside concern for himself, gently pushes Giselle to one side, and effortlessly pulls the sword from the stone. Sorry - another Disney movie reference - Edward effortlessly pulls the sword from the floor.
  
  He attacks the dragon but, despite his best efforts, is unable to overcome it alone. Robert, who up to this point has been a passive, almost metrosexual, bystander to the events that are determining his own life, is inspired by Edward's example. He overcomes his own fear and together, Edward and Robert, they defeat the dragon. A manly handshake ensues.
  
  Edward presents Robert to Giselle, thus completing the bridge between the fantasy world of Andalusia and the gritty streets of Manhattan. Angie, Robert's theoretical fiancée (played by Samantha Ivers) is truly the under appreciated tragic figure in this story. However, she is swept away by the depth of Edwards courage, nobility, and romance. She rewards him with a kiss and they both discover that they are each other's One True Love.
  
  Robert weds Giselle, Edward weds Angie, and the wicked queen's former toady, Nathaniel (played by Timothy Spall) goes on to be a best-selling author.
  
  We, the audience, have now found a new respect for the characters of Edward, Robert and Angie. They've overcome their heartbreaking circumstances and grown. Real literary stuff.
  
  I thought all that up while sitting in my seat watching the credits scroll up the screen.
  
  So I wasn't entirely satisfied by the ending. "Enchanted" is still a good, though not great, movie and, as directed by my own 11-year-old-princess, I will buy it when it comes out on DVD.
  
  
• Finding your true love and happy ever after
  By AQ8NO9OA2D9LA on 2008-01-01
  As a young girl, I grew up with Disney fairy tales where the princesses found their princes and lived happily ever after. Of course, reality is that it is a cruel world and you may not find that happily ever after or your true love. In Enchanted, Giselle does find her true love in the fairy tale but is sent to the evil, cruel reality called New York City by her evil stepmother-to-be who is afraid that Giselle will take over being queen. She gets lost in the real world and is helped by a single father, Robert who has a 6 year old daughter, Morgan, and who doesn't believe in fairy tales. While waiting for her prince to come rescue her she falls in love with Robert and Morgan and vice versa. In this time, the evil stepmother also has sent someone to kill Giselle and eventually has to come to do the deed herself. In the end, who is Giselle meant to be with? Is it the Prince from her fairytale world or the one she has just met in the real world? Is a happily ever after possible?
  
  I would have to say that anyone who grew up listening to the fairytales would love this tale. It gives hope to all that are still looking for their true love and their happily ever after. Sometimes it is where you least expect it.
  
  The cast is excellent with Amy Adams playing Giselle, James Marsden as Prince Edward, Patrick Dempsey as Robert, and Susan Surandon as the wicked stepmother. I like how it incorporated different aspects of the fairy tales that I grew up with such as my prince will come, cinderella calling on the animals to help clean and sew, the evil step mother, etc. This is definitely on my to buy list when it comes on dvd.
  
  
• "Whimsical Meets Practical"
  By A2MW0RYIXMEYGS on 2008-01-22
  In these modern days of Disney animation, who would have thought anything short of Pixar could save them. And word is that Pixar actually did collaborate with Disney on this film. Whatever the cause, the effect is stellar. All the right ingredients went into this film, and to complete the analogy, it was baked at just the right temperature.
  
  ACTORS: Amy Adams perfectly captures what the Disney princess is all about, with her winning, sometimes-naive charm. James Marsdan finds no trouble portraying the handsome-heroic-and-knows-it Prince Edward, while Patrick Dempsey fits the bill of "everyday hero" quite well. Susan Sarandon also exemplifies the antagonist, sounding almost like Eleanor Audley, the classic Disney "evil villainess" voice (Evil Stepmother, Maleficent, etc). And you already know the gist of the plot; fairy tale princess gets sent to the real world and has culture shock times ten.
  
  What really makes the movie so fantastic is the way those two worlds blend.
  
  PLOT: Watching these characters step out of the far fields of fantasy and encounter the "real world" is simply magical, whether it be the exaggerated heroism of Prince Edward in stabbing the "metal monster" bus, or the tender bewilderment of Giselle at feeling anger for the first time. Yet, the blend is not one-sided. Going in, I assumed fantasy would be handled as the current trend in movies so often is - getting its butt kicked by reality to the refrain of a needle abruptly sliding off a record.
  
  But instead, a little bit of pixie dust goes a long way, and the gilded gleam of fantasy holds steady against the culture shock of real life; even winning out in some cases. The mix (and transformations) are enchanting, showing it's not just the fantasy characters who need to "grow up"; fairy tales have something to teach us too. Just as the real world forces Giselle to undergo a maturation process without completely discarding her princessy ways, fantasy helps Robert learn to believe in love again, and brings out his humanity without leaving him in euphoric naiveté.
  
  This isn't just fantasy meets reality. This is past meets present. This is the spirit of childhood meets the realities of being grown-up. And it's a stroke of genius to forge this connection. Disney clearly recognizes that times are changing, and that in contemporary cinema - and in the culture overall - the era of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty is all but gone. But instead of permitting parody (brought on largely by Dreamworks' "Shrek") to sweep fantasy away utterly, Disney blends the two together, to ease the transition and, hopefully, to preserve the past.
  
  And the past is certainly worth preserving. I was impressed by the exhibitions of honor in the film. For example, When extending compassion to the rain-soaked princess, Robert allows her to come to his apartment. When she falls asleep on his couch, he reluctantly permits her to remain...and informs his daughter she'll be sleeping in his bed, to avoid the obvious implications of having a strange woman sleeping in his apartment. (Not all princes wear cloaks and carry swords.) Honor among men is not a quality oft-exhibited in modern cinema any more; it was practically a thrill to see it in Enchanted.
  
  Likewise, the unselfishness of the main characters also stood out. When Prince Edward makes his debut, he seems first to be the self-obsessed narcissist reflected in parodies like Shrek 2 (IE, hair net under the helmet to preserve those golden curls.) But when it comes down to it, Edward sacrifices his own love for the happiness of the Giselle. When his kiss cannot break the spell, his desire to see Giselle saved overcomes every other thought, and he insists that Robert kiss her. Similarly, Nancy sacrifices what she thought was her dream, not just by permitting but by insisting that Robert kiss Giselle.
  
  The movie works wonderfully for youngsters, with just a tinge of spook as all classic Disney movies have. But on a higher level, adults can identify too. Like the film, members of the Disney generation (or any generation) have had to grow out of their simple, ideal world and meet full-on all the joys and pains of the "real world." This movie is a wonderful melding the two.
  
  MUSIC: The music too hearkens back to Disney's grander days. The smashing compositions of Alan Menken and lyrics of Stephen Schwartz (the two collaborated on The Hunchback of Notre Dame) are appropriately cheerful, perky or sentimental as the situation requires. Additionally, James Marsdan and Amy Adams do their own singing - and excel beautifully.
  
  Watching this movie was like being reunited with an old friend whom you haven't seen in so long that you've nearly forgotten he exists. Let's admit it, most of us grew up on the Disney classics like Peter Pan, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. And let's also admit that, while shades of those Disney memories existed in the sequels and prequels and threequels that Disney has been mass-producing (falsely believing that the characters were what made the classics so grand), it wasn't the same. But Enchanted represents a return to the glory days.
  
  Thanks, Disney, for refreshing old memories and the chance to make some new ones.
  
  Walt would be proud.
  
  
• Enchanted Is Enchanting
  By A145EDBZDAYY7L on 2008-02-18
  Finally, a film that does exactly what it says on the tin. This is truly a fantastic film for all the family. The film begins as a traditional, beautiful Disney animation set in a wonderful fairytale world filled with Princes and Princesses, magic and giants.
  
  After an unfortunate encounter with a giant, Giselle, a lovely young woman meets Prince Edward and in classic fairy tale fashion, the two fall in love and plan to marry the next day. However, Prince Edward's evil stepmother, Queen Narissa, has other ideas and plots to get rid of Giselle, thereby keeping her throne. The moment when she pushes Giselle into a massive magical pit is when the film makes its ingenious transition from animation to live action. Giselle ends up in New York City - as Narissa evilly puts it "A place where there are no happily ever afters" - and is lost and alone. She eventually runs into a lawyer played by Patrick Dempsey, and his young daughter who is especially taken with her. Eventually, Prince Edward also ventures to the city to find his true love and after this happens, anything goes.
  
  Amy Adams' performance as Giselle, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress - Musical or Comedy is a revelation. She shines in every scene that she is in with her wonderfully sweet and funny peformance, which has her singing at random and calling to her animal friends to help tidy up.
  
  The film is an intelligent send up of classic Disney fairy tales as well as a genuinely heartwarming love story and exciting adventure. Children of all ages as well as adults will love this as it really has something for everyone. One of the best films of 2007, if not ever.
  
  
• A Sweet, Funny, and Memorable Trip Down Disney Lane
  By A14N5L5T089VX3 on 2008-03-18
  "Enchanted", starring Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams, has James Marsden and Susan Sarandon in supporting roles, and Julie Andrews as the Narrator. There are numerous cameo appearances by "princesses" and personalities from past Disney films, as well as sight-gags, dialog and other references to - it seems - just about every Disney film ever made.
  
  The film combines classic Disney-style animation with live action, set in New York City; and its clear the writers had alot of fun playing with the classic Disney "princess" storyline.
  
  In the animated world, the Evil Queen (Susan Sarandon) realizes that Giselle will destroy her control over her son, the handsome prince (James Marsden), threatening her position as Queen. She sets out to destroy Giselle by throwing her into the real world - New York City, where our heroine, winds up in our hero Robert Philip's (Patrick Dempsey's) life after he sees and rescues her at his daughter's request when they see her wandering the streets of New York: lost, confused, and desperately trying to get back to her home.
  
  The rest of the film tells how Giselle, in her sweet, wholesome, slightly ditzy, and enchanted way, learns more and more about what reality is. As the film progresses, you see that her expectations of love are very romantic, perfectionist, and unrealistic - just as Robert Philip's views of love are equally unrealistic - but in the opposite direction: jaded and too willing to accept a relationship (with a long time girlfriend) that just was not going anywhere.
  
  The story is really about how both of them grow up - the film seems to be trying to tell us that Fantasy is good, and fun, but that there is reality too. Reality may not always be fun, but everyone eventually needs to find a balance between the two.
  
  The film is aimed at pre-teens and their parents, and both will definitely enjoy the experience - it works at many levels, and is full of color, action, song and humor, as well as the before-mentioned references to many past Disney films which will take parents and children alike on a trip down memory lane.
  
  The performances of all the actors are excellent and enjoyable. Amy Adams, in particular, gave a great performance as Giselle. The film received an Oscar nomination for music.
  
  Be aware that there is an intensely emotional scene at one point that will fly right over the heads of younger children. There is also a very intense and somewhat violent sequence at the end of the film which may be unsuitable for very young children.
  
  Even so, I really enjoyed the movie, and - aside for the caveats mentioned above, have no concerns about recommending it for the whole family. I give it four stars: not an Academy Award winner, but certainly an excellent and enjoyable film that will stand the test of time.
  
  
• I haven't felt this way about a movie since Roger Rabbit
  By A2UBSGFCP2QFNV on 2008-03-19
  This movie was a celebration for everyone who loves Disney classics, whether they've seen them so often they've memorized them, or just grew up waiting until the animated features returned to theaters every seven years -- what an event that used to be. Enchanted is such an event.
  
  My family and I went to the theater three separate times to see this film, and every time we noticed new things. This is the best argument ever for buying the DVD. Now, seeing it at home without the spectacle of the big screen, it's possible to focus more closely on the subtleties of the acting, the music, the color and Kevin Lima's expert direction.
  
  Years before he most likely ever dreamed he'd be the director of Enchanted, he remarked on the audio commentary of his first live action feature, 102 Dalmatians, that he took great care when he re-created the Lady and the Tramp spaghetti scene for that film. He said his wish was to stage something that existed in animation but made sense in reality. He more than succeeded with Enchanted, which seems to have not one false note.
  
  That's especially true of the most magical actress of our day, Amy Adams. She brings a Julie Andrews sincerity to her portrayal of Giselle, but adds a deft transformation from animated to real-life in her every movement. The entire film rests on her delicate shoulders. We could just as well have started to find Giselle irritating after a few scenes or repeated viewings. Remarkably, this performance is pitch-perfect.
  
  The DVD looks and sounds wonderful, but I it does make me hope that there will be a special edition someday because I was really looking forward to an audio commentary. The bonus features are quite good, but the pickin's is lean, considering how rich this film is (thus the four stars).
  
  If you get the Blu-Ray version, you not only get a better picture but they've also added an interactive quiz feature about the numerous Disney classic references. Now, if the Blu-Ray had a commentary or two, I'd be asking my wife for a Blu-ray player for my birthday.
  
  
  
  
• Blu-Ray version features Interactive game
  By A240YXY99G0P4 on 2008-03-19
  The Blu-Ray version includes an Interactive Game called "D-Files". The game uses BD-Java to integrate trivia challenges throughout the film that tests you on all of the various references to past Disney films. When you answer a question correctly, you are treated to various clips, several which play homage to past Disney films.
  
  
• Clever Throwback to Disney's Better Days Provides an Ebullient Breakthrough for Adams
  By A13E0ARAXI6KJW on 2008-03-28
  For those fortunate enough to have seen Amy Adams in Phil Morrison's Junebug (2005), you saw a genuinely guileless actress who is capable of conveying sincerity without a hint of irony. As the perennially sunny and interminably pregnant Ashley, she stole that picture easily, and the same holds true for this far more extravagant 2007 Disney production directed by Disney stalwart Kevin Lima (102 Dalmatians, Tarzan). This time, she provides the voice for Giselle, a fair maiden in bucolic woodland where the animals sing and dance as she dreams of kissing her prince. Fortunately, the handsome, self-absorbed Prince Edward shows up with his Marty Feldman-like sidekick Nathaniel in the nick of time as a gigantic troll is about to pounce on Giselle. They fall in love and decide to marry the next day.
  
  However, Edward's stepmother, the evil Queen Narissa, does not want Giselle in line for the throne, so she plots to be rid of Giselle by pushing her into a portal that ends up in the middle of Manhattan's Times Square. It's at this point that the film turns to live action, and Giselle is fully embodied by Adams as a wedding ball-gowned fish-out-of-water. Bill Kelly's amusing though somewhat erratic screenplay has her going through the predictable shenanigans, including a chance encounter with Robert, a pragmatic divorce lawyer and a single father to Morgan, an Abigail Breslin-look-alike moppet who wonders if Giselle could be really a fairy princess. Of course, complications ensue with not only Robert's suspicious fiancée Nancy but also Nathaniel, who has come after Giselle upon Narissa's orders. Edward also shows up, and consequently a romantic quadrangle develops with Giselle in an unfettered search for true love.
  
  Most of the musical numbers by Disney veteran Alan Menken and Broadway composer Steven Schwartz are catchy and true to the spirit of the story. "Happy Working Song", a vermin-infested paean to Snow White's "Whistle While You Work", and "That's How You Know", which mimics the calypso beat of The Little Mermaid's "Under the Sea", benefit from witty staging and Adams' surprisingly clear soprano. The only exception is the turgid love ballad near the end, "So Close", sung by Michael Bolton-wannabe Jon McLaughlin. Beyond Adams, James Marsden plays the hilariously misguided prince with gleeful panache, and Timothy Spall dances easily between malevolent and befuddled as the conflicted Nathaniel. Susan Sarandon is slumming as the Queen, but once she finally shows up in human form, she puts her authoritative spin and killer rack into the character. Perhaps because his character is scripted as such a downer, Patrick Dempsey makes for a lifeless romantic lead for the ebullient Adams. A couple of familiar Broadway performers show up - Idina Menzel (Wicked, Rent) as Nancy, and Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, Or Change) as an embittered wife facing a nasty divorce.
  
  The one problem I had with the movie is the drastic shift in tone during the overdone, CGI-saturated finale. While I can appreciate the female empowerment orientation being conveyed, the story could have easily ended about ten minutes earlier. Fortunately, the hand-drawn animation in the opening sequence is a fine tribute to Disney's pre-Pixar glory. Given it is from Disney, the 2008 DVD has plenty of extras beginning with a behind-the-scenes featurette, "Fantasy Comes to Life". Divided into three parts, it shows how the production numbers for "Happy Working Song" and "That's How You Know" came together, as well as the finale. There are six deleted scenes, all introduced by Lima, which includes a storyboard-only alternative to the opening sequence. A two-minute blooper reel is included, as well as a five-minute short for the kiddies called "Pip's Predicament: A Pop-up Adventure" about the daredevil chipmunk and a music video of Carrie Underwood's "Ever Ever After". Definitely better than I expected.
  
  

• Bee Movie (Widescreen Edition)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks
• The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (Full Screen Edition)
• The Golden Compass (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition)