ENCHANTED
US, 2007, 107 minutes, Colour.
Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Idina Menzel, Susan Sarandon, Timothy Spall, Rachel Covey. Narrated by Julie Andrews.
Directed by Kevin Lima.
You would have to be a bit of a stone not to enjoy this engaging fantasy. If you don’t enjoy the romance, you will certainly enjoy the spoofs and the irony.
The opening of the film transports us back to the heyday of Disney films and their animation style. Here is Giselle, not a princess, but a dreamer like Snow White, who knows that one day her prince will come. And he does, listening to her song wafting over the countryside. She confides all her hopes to the biggest collection of supporting animal cast since Bambi. Unfortunately for Giselle and Prince Edward, his wicked stepmother (straight out of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty) puts a curse on Giselle and sends her as far away as possible, down a well - into a busy Times Square and in the human form of the charming Amy Adams.
For those who were wondering what the film was getting at, once they are in New York, they will be at ease, except that they will be laughing a lot.
What happens when you blend the innocence and charm of fairyland with modern New York City? For the cartoon characters, it can be life transforming. Giselle finds that being human is not being a two dimensional drawing with one dimensional thinking and feeling. Grateful for any help, she is looked after by a businessman (Patrick Dempsey on leave from Gray’s Anatomy and obviously relishing a substantial film role) and his daughter. He is generous but mystified and exasperated but his daughter is enraptured by Giselle who gradually becomes more Cinderella-like. As with Crocodile Dundee and ingenuous others from out-of-town, there is a lot of comedy to be had from misunderstandings and mix-ups in the big city.
This is further complicated when Timothy Spall turns up to do the wicked stepmother’s evil behest to get rid of Giselle. Lots of comedy in his disguises and his frustrated and failed attempts.
Then more complications when Prince Edward materialises in search of Giselle. He is even more of a Crocodile Dundee, but without the innate sense of humour and shrewdness. He remains amusingly two dimensional in the fine performance by James Marsden (who was also very good in his role as the MC in Hairspray). His one dimensional thinking, feeling (and expectations that he and Giselle should be singing romantic songs) do not change.
Then, at last, at a ball, the stepmother materialises in the form of Susan Sarandon. Battle begins.
There are some romantic songs from Alan Mencken and Stephen Schwarz which often receive the spoof treatment – and the lyrics are often very funny. There is a chipmunk who can speak in fairyland but can only make noises in the real world and is forced to do charades which Prince Edward continually misinterprets.
There is enough for the kids to enjoy (well, maybe not boys between 11 and 16), enough for the adults – and enough for the cynics as well.
1.Enjoyment, success with audiences of all ages, its appeal?
2.The Disney animation, the style, the 30s and 40s, being mocked, the range of characters and animals, the songs and their melodies as well as parody, delight?
3.The live action, New York City, authentic, cartoon characters in New York, Times Square, the streets, parks, restaurants, homes? The costumes?
4.The musical score, songs of dreams, cleaning the house, ‘How Will I Know’ and the climactic songs?
5.The set-up for the fairy tale: Giselle, a poor Cinderella type, her song, her dreams, all the animals participating – with the comic slapstick touches? The prince, the evil queen’s stepson, his riding the horse, hearing Giselle, Giselle falling into his lap, the preparations for marriage, the old hag with the apple, the well, the chipmunk?
6.Giselle and the fall, landing in Times Square, the workers, the chipmunk and his sounds, Prince Edward and his holding the sword to them? Nathaniel and his arrival?
7.Giselle in New York, trying to be kind, her crown being stolen, on the first floor trying to get into the palace, her falling, Robert catching her, her story, Robert and Morgan? Her dress and made from the curtains? Cleaning the house, the help of all the animals? Her bath and puzzle about where the water came from? The encounter with Nancy, falling into the corridor? Her response to the divorcees – and the later influence and their reconciling? Her talking about how happy they looked and their eyes? Her intrinsic happiness, going out, singing in the park, even Robert joining in? Edward and her meeting with him?
8.Robert, his work, with the divorcees? Widower, love for his daughter? Dating Nancy for five years, the plan to marry? At home, the puzzle about Giselle, Edward’s arrival, the attempts on Giselle’s life, the songs, seeing Giselle tell Morgan bedtime stories?
9.Nancy, in herself, her arrival, suspicions, the plans for the marriage, the meals? Prince Edward, the ball, the attraction?
10.The chipmunk, his talk, the slapstick comedy, his saving Giselle’s life?
11.Nathaniel, his serving the queen, infatuated with her, going to New York, seeing the queen in the various liquids, the attempts on Giselle’s life, the apple, the poison, the restaurant?
12.Edward, in New York, awkward, expecting people to sing, behaving in a cartoon-like way? The puzzle about the date, going on the date with Giselle?
13.The ball, Giselle’s preparation, Edward and Nancy, the dances, the queen appearing? The anger of the queen, her coming through the well? Her stepson, the marriage? Turning into a dragon, the dragon fight and the slaying of the dragon?
14.The cartoon ending with Edward and Nancy?
15.The real-life ending, the shop, the fashions, the happy family?
