Three out of
Five stars
Running time:
107 mins
Enjoyable comedy with an amusing script and a superb comic performance from Amy Adams, but it's slightly too grown-up for young children and yet not quite grown-up enough for adults.
What's it all about?
Enchanted begins as a typical Disney cartoon, in which animated princess Giselle (Amy Adams) is swept off her feet by the dashing Prince Edward (James Marsden) and the two make plans to live happily ever after. However, Edward's mother, the Wicked Queen (Susan Sarandon) banishes Giselle from her magical, musical, animated land and Giselle finds herself on the gritty, live-action streets of modern-day Manhattan.
She winds up in the care of kind-hearted divorce lawyer Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and his young daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey), which causes friction between Robert and his girlfriend Nancy (Idina Menzel). And when Prince Edward decides to come to New York to rescue Giselle, the Queen sends her evil, bumbling henchman (Timothy Spall) to finish her off.
The Good
Amy Adams is utterly charming as Giselle, so much so that it's difficult to imagine anyone else in the part that could have played it as well – as such, she's the main reason to see the film. Patrick Dempsey does well to keep up with her and they make a likeable screen couple, even if the script can't avoid that awkward romcom trap of What To Do With The Existing Girlfriend.
There are several excellent gags to be wrung out of the clash between the real world and the animated world, most notably Giselle deciding to clean Robert's apartment with the help of rats, pigeons and cockroaches. In addition, there are some superb songs (courtesy of acclaimed songwriting duo Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz) and the script crackles with witty dialogue, but it's less successful in developing the romance.
The Bad
The film is slightly too knowing for younger audiences, while at the same time, not quite risque enough for adults, which is occasionally frustrating.
Worth seeing?
That said, Enchanted is still an enjoyable comedy with several hilarious gags and a genuinely charming performance from Amy Adams. Worth seeing.