Scan and Pan
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Enchanted
In the storybook land of Andalasia, the blissful Giselle (Amy Adams) is engaged to be married to Prince Edward (James Marsden), a union opposed by Edward's wicked stepmother, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon). Narissa tries to eliminate Giselle by shoving her through a magical portal that transports her to the real world of New York City. Wandering around the city in confusion, Giselle is taken in by divorce lawyer Rob (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey). After Edward follows Giselle to the real world, Narissa sends her bumbling henchman Nathaniel (Timothy Spall) after him to ensure that he doesn't marry Giselle and threaten her control of Andalasia.
Director Kevin Lima (Tarzan, 102 Dalmatians) understands the conventions of classic Disney films, and Enchanted has numerous references to them while also gently poking some fun at them. The film portrays Andalasia using traditional animation, then switches to live action when the story moves to the real world, and the transition is smoothly handled and believable in the context of the story. The live action sequences are enhanced by CGI effects to bring to life various animals and creatures that help Giselle, as well as a menacing dragon. It's such an exuberantly frothy concoction that you can't help but be carried away by it.
The charming screenplay by Bill Kelly (Premonition) understands the appeal of happily ever after fairy tales. It may be predictable in the way that Disney films usually are, but what makes it so fun is seeing how artfully the familiar tropes are employed here, and how enjoyable they can still be when done right. It's also a clever homage to Disney classics that fans of those films should enjoy.
Cinematographer Don Burgess (Spider-Man, My Super Ex-Girlfriend) and production designer Stuart Wurtzel (Stepmom, Charlotte's Web) bring a bright, airy look to the film that gives the live action scenes the ambience of an animated fairy tale. Costume designer Mona May (Stuart Little 2, The Haunted Mansion) provides some fantastic gowns for Giselle.
Sometimes characters in these kinds of films burst into song, and the songs here are provided by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. As individuals and as a team, they've been responsible for the songs in past Disney films like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as Broadway productions Little Shop of Horrors and Wicked. Their contributions here are as clever and tuneful as one would expect from their past body of work, and adds greatly to the pleasure of watching the film. One only wishes that there were more than five songs. The choreography by John O'Connell (Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge) is energetic, including a big song-and-dance sequence set in Central Park.
The luminous Adams is ever so perfect as a Disney Princess come to life and having to deal with the tribulations of a world that doesn't believe in magic or happily ever after, while Marsden exhibits a goofy charm as her earnest but none too bright fairy tale prince. The rest of the cast shines, too, including Dempsey as the practical-minded lawyer who slowly falls for Giselle, Covey as his daughter, Sarandon as the archetypal wicked stepmother/evil queen (she seems to be having a lot of fun in the role), Spall as the bumbling henchman, Idina Menzel as Bob's fiancée-to-be, and Matt Servitto as the boss of a sewer crew working at a manhole that just happens to be the exit point for the magical portal. Julie Andrews is the narrator, while Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid), Paige O'Hara (the voice of Belle in Beauty and the Beast), and Judy Kuhn (the singing voice of the title character in Pocahontas) have cameos.
Enchanted is a magical romantic comedy for those of us who still want to believe that there's a happily ever after. What it may lack in substance it amply makes up for in entertainment value.
[4 out of 5 stars]
Just in time for the holidays, Walt Disney Pictures and producer Barry Sonnenfeld (director of The Addams Family and executive producer of television's Pushing Daisies) unveil a lighthearted truffle that's a mixture of animation and live action, filled with songs and romance, and sure to appeal to the entire family.
In the storybook land of Andalasia, the blissful Giselle (Amy Adams) is engaged to be married to Prince Edward (James Marsden), a union opposed by Edward's wicked stepmother, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon). Narissa tries to eliminate Giselle by shoving her through a magical portal that transports her to the real world of New York City. Wandering around the city in confusion, Giselle is taken in by divorce lawyer Rob (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey). After Edward follows Giselle to the real world, Narissa sends her bumbling henchman Nathaniel (Timothy Spall) after him to ensure that he doesn't marry Giselle and threaten her control of Andalasia.
Director Kevin Lima (Tarzan, 102 Dalmatians) understands the conventions of classic Disney films, and Enchanted has numerous references to them while also gently poking some fun at them. The film portrays Andalasia using traditional animation, then switches to live action when the story moves to the real world, and the transition is smoothly handled and believable in the context of the story. The live action sequences are enhanced by CGI effects to bring to life various animals and creatures that help Giselle, as well as a menacing dragon. It's such an exuberantly frothy concoction that you can't help but be carried away by it.
The charming screenplay by Bill Kelly (Premonition) understands the appeal of happily ever after fairy tales. It may be predictable in the way that Disney films usually are, but what makes it so fun is seeing how artfully the familiar tropes are employed here, and how enjoyable they can still be when done right. It's also a clever homage to Disney classics that fans of those films should enjoy.
Cinematographer Don Burgess (Spider-Man, My Super Ex-Girlfriend) and production designer Stuart Wurtzel (Stepmom, Charlotte's Web) bring a bright, airy look to the film that gives the live action scenes the ambience of an animated fairy tale. Costume designer Mona May (Stuart Little 2, The Haunted Mansion) provides some fantastic gowns for Giselle.
Sometimes characters in these kinds of films burst into song, and the songs here are provided by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. As individuals and as a team, they've been responsible for the songs in past Disney films like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as Broadway productions Little Shop of Horrors and Wicked. Their contributions here are as clever and tuneful as one would expect from their past body of work, and adds greatly to the pleasure of watching the film. One only wishes that there were more than five songs. The choreography by John O'Connell (Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge) is energetic, including a big song-and-dance sequence set in Central Park.
The luminous Adams is ever so perfect as a Disney Princess come to life and having to deal with the tribulations of a world that doesn't believe in magic or happily ever after, while Marsden exhibits a goofy charm as her earnest but none too bright fairy tale prince. The rest of the cast shines, too, including Dempsey as the practical-minded lawyer who slowly falls for Giselle, Covey as his daughter, Sarandon as the archetypal wicked stepmother/evil queen (she seems to be having a lot of fun in the role), Spall as the bumbling henchman, Idina Menzel as Bob's fiancée-to-be, and Matt Servitto as the boss of a sewer crew working at a manhole that just happens to be the exit point for the magical portal. Julie Andrews is the narrator, while Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid), Paige O'Hara (the voice of Belle in Beauty and the Beast), and Judy Kuhn (the singing voice of the title character in Pocahontas) have cameos.
Enchanted is a magical romantic comedy for those of us who still want to believe that there's a happily ever after. What it may lack in substance it amply makes up for in entertainment value.
[4 out of 5 stars]
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