Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, John Marsden, Susan Sarandon, Timothy Spall

Director: Kevin Lima

Screenplay: Bill Kelly

Running time: 1 hr 47 mins

Genre: Comedy/Musical/Animation/Children


REVIEW:


For the first time in donkey’s years, well, ever since it released its first legendary feature that was SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES, Disney contradicted itself quite amusingly. By this feature ENCHANTED, which starts with the long-lost world of hand-drawn animation and thrusts the main characters into the real, breathing universe of humans in the inhumanly New York City, where fairy-tales don’t exist and happy endings are for the mentally-disassociated ones, there’s a massive, good dose of cynicism that could come walloping all the mushy fairy-tale movies. It’s astonishing that Disney delivered it themselves, out of humour, heartbreak, a damsel in distress, a prince to the rescue and the traditional Disney hotchpotch – there’s sarcasm, wit and ironic feel that makes this a bewitching film to watch, not because we know it’s going to end in a happy tune anyway, but the journey of the damsel in the middle, in which she could be slapped around the face ruthlessly with the harsh realities of life.


It’s a silly concept: a heroine by the name of Giselle (Amy Adams), an addition to the long list of Jasmine’s, Ariel’s, Belle’s and so on, like any other princesses is a hopeless romantic optimist, an unblinking believer of happy endings. We’re given one of that straight away before the first 10 minutes of the film has rolled out, as she’s saved by the prince and they trundle along with the horse literally into the sun and the clouds (trumpets and orchestra ensues). Not for long, she’s thrown into a well before her wedding happens and emerges on a manhole, right at the middle of Times Square. Here, the fish-out-of-water plot inevitably follows. Yes, it’s definitely silly indeed, but it works and it’s effective enough to keep the charm intact and our mouths hanging in some priceless laughs.


There are scenes worth keeping your bum seated, such as the hilarious calling-the-animals of the city to assist in cleaning the apartment (there has never been a scene like this that’s an entire gross out since RATATOUILLE, now with added roaches and unkempt pigeons), the musical break-out in Central Park (kudos to Disney’s legend himself, Alan Menken, the musical genius behind most of Disney’s greats) and Giselle’s overreaction to divorce is enjoyable to watch. Fans of the Disney encyclopaedia will surely notice a roll-call of tributes: Giselle’s house in the forest is from TARZAN, LITTLE MERMAID’s theme “Part of that World” is played at the background when the aquarium was shown, Robert’s costume was designed after Beast in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the apple for SNOW WHITE, the glass slippers for CINDERELLA, and a whole lotta more.


However, it’s the film’s main performance that gives this an unflinching exuberance by the name of Amy Adams. She – is – just – fantastic. Her adorable, human-counterpart of a cartoon heroine is a marvel to witness, bringing all the movements as though being swooned all the time, the chipper, the trill, and the melodious voice. Her batting of eyelashes is as normal as the hitches of her breathing every time “forever” is mentioned in the air. After being nominated for Oscar Best Actress for her role in JUNEBUG last year, it’s no surprise she could make it up for award shorlists. She reminds us of a more youthful Nicole Kidman, with talent and grace and charm intertwined altogether like a cute mush-up of ribbons. James Marsden, on the other note, is as almost equally convincing as the prince in pursuit of love, calling locals “peasants” and in human world, a narcissist in tights. Susan Sarandon barely gets a look-in of the character, as other villainy step-mothers do. Patrick Dempsey, the single-dad lawyer, whose heart was struck by Giselle’s naivety, gives the film a realistic resonance that fairy tales are for un-divorced people and life is never awarded with happy endings all the time.


Then it’s time to be doused by a bucket of cold water that after all, it’s a Disney flick, where predictability is a stalwart tradition difficult to fracture. Happy endings happen all the time in that world, so why don’t we all go out and multiply in Disneyland?!


VERDICT:


Campy fun and endearing silliness, the paradox of Disney is cleverly laid out in one mesh of enjoyable entertainment. ENCHANTED is that Disney film as Disney could ever be. All hurrah cheers to Amy Adams for the sheer energy that’s worth a thousand bottles of Lucozade – and for putting a big smile on my face that only a few films ever achieved this year.


RATING: B+