EnchantedStarring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Idina Menzel & Susan Surandon
This is what Disney is all about: an over the top, fun, well-conceived fairy tale, inching its way into the satire genre. "Enchanted" brings together the worlds of fantasy and reality, digging back to it's old school roots of artistry (similar to the 2-D animation of "The Little Mermaid," "Tarzan," and "Mulan"), creating a great, entertaining family blockbuster.
Beginning with the 2-D animated world, Giselle (Amy Adams), a singing/frolicking/caller of wild animals kind of maiden, wishes to receive "a true love's kiss," particularly from some far-away galloping prince, and of course, he has to be charming. With a troll catastrophe, Prince Edward (voiced by and later played by James Marsden) rescuing Giselle on his steed, and a tomorrow-true-love weddi
ng, Giselle is leading the life she wants. However, when the royally evil Queen Narissa (Susan Surandon) plans to rid the kingdom of the soon-to-be royal Giselle, the young maiden's future life is in jeopardy.
Thrown into a well of mystery, the real life Giselle is engulfed by a world of gigantic buildings, loud vehicles emitting pollution, small people who aren't related to Dopey or Grumpy, and a billboard castle that won't let anyone in. Giselle, in all her trusting and optimistic ways, is in our world. New York City to be exact. Luckily, however, the incredibly pessimistic Robert (Patrick Murphy), a well-to-do lawyer, and his motherless daughter find Giselle. With a good heart and his daughter's yearning for princesses - even if Giselle is assumed to be some nutcase - the family of two take the lost girl in.
In front of a few overly cliche scenes and a horribly digitalized dragon, "Enchanted" attaches itself on the children and the adults alike, especially the immensely intricate acting of Amy Adams. Her Giselle is naive, adorable, lovable, and somewhat neurotic. She also creates princess-like dresses out of any fabric at hand in a single morning. Giselle forms immediate personal bonds with any living being she encounters, striking up a musical number in Central Park, a group of city rats, roaches, and pigeons to do her cleaning up, and a separating couple to be once again happily in love.
I can see this role being passed on by many actresses. Adams picked i
t up, and now, from a few Oscar Predictions websites, she's being pulled into the top five to be nominated for Best Actress. This is because Adams brings such an enchanting feeling to the role, inviting us in, and taking up her journey from callow maiden to a modern day woman. Adams' Giselle is one of the best performances of the year.
Yet, she's not the only cast member that gets a good word. Her fantasy world fiance, Prince Edward, has just as much heart and primitiveness as she does. Marsden allows his character to never be consumed by the city insanity. He believes that a bus is a dragon, the people are peasants, and this is just another world to conquer. His drive is to one, and one only: to find Giselle. Though he does discover some truths about the world he entered, he never does sway from his own kingdom.
With all the great roles and actors to play them, a great plot, and numerous satirical odes to past fairy tales, "Enchanted" was the most enjoyable movie of the season, and Adams shines so bright - maybe all the way to a shining Oscar.
Grade: B+
This is what Disney is all about: an over the top, fun, well-conceived fairy tale, inching its way into the satire genre. "Enchanted" brings together the worlds of fantasy and reality, digging back to it's old school roots of artistry (similar to the 2-D animation of "The Little Mermaid," "Tarzan," and "Mulan"), creating a great, entertaining family blockbuster.
Beginning with the 2-D animated world, Giselle (Amy Adams), a singing/frolicking/caller of wild animals kind of maiden, wishes to receive "a true love's kiss," particularly from some far-away galloping prince, and of course, he has to be charming. With a troll catastrophe, Prince Edward (voiced by and later played by James Marsden) rescuing Giselle on his steed, and a tomorrow-true-love weddi
ng, Giselle is leading the life she wants. However, when the royally evil Queen Narissa (Susan Surandon) plans to rid the kingdom of the soon-to-be royal Giselle, the young maiden's future life is in jeopardy.Thrown into a well of mystery, the real life Giselle is engulfed by a world of gigantic buildings, loud vehicles emitting pollution, small people who aren't related to Dopey or Grumpy, and a billboard castle that won't let anyone in. Giselle, in all her trusting and optimistic ways, is in our world. New York City to be exact. Luckily, however, the incredibly pessimistic Robert (Patrick Murphy), a well-to-do lawyer, and his motherless daughter find Giselle. With a good heart and his daughter's yearning for princesses - even if Giselle is assumed to be some nutcase - the family of two take the lost girl in.
In front of a few overly cliche scenes and a horribly digitalized dragon, "Enchanted" attaches itself on the children and the adults alike, especially the immensely intricate acting of Amy Adams. Her Giselle is naive, adorable, lovable, and somewhat neurotic. She also creates princess-like dresses out of any fabric at hand in a single morning. Giselle forms immediate personal bonds with any living being she encounters, striking up a musical number in Central Park, a group of city rats, roaches, and pigeons to do her cleaning up, and a separating couple to be once again happily in love.
I can see this role being passed on by many actresses. Adams picked i
t up, and now, from a few Oscar Predictions websites, she's being pulled into the top five to be nominated for Best Actress. This is because Adams brings such an enchanting feeling to the role, inviting us in, and taking up her journey from callow maiden to a modern day woman. Adams' Giselle is one of the best performances of the year.Yet, she's not the only cast member that gets a good word. Her fantasy world fiance, Prince Edward, has just as much heart and primitiveness as she does. Marsden allows his character to never be consumed by the city insanity. He believes that a bus is a dragon, the people are peasants, and this is just another world to conquer. His drive is to one, and one only: to find Giselle. Though he does discover some truths about the world he entered, he never does sway from his own kingdom.
With all the great roles and actors to play them, a great plot, and numerous satirical odes to past fairy tales, "Enchanted" was the most enjoyable movie of the season, and Adams shines so bright - maybe all the way to a shining Oscar.
Grade: B+
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