Enchanted should make so much money it isn’t even funny, but it doesn’t seem any buzz has been created around it whatsoever. It offers up a great alternative to The Mist and certainly Hitman over the holiday weekend, but massive marketing campaigns for those two movies seem to have stifled any chances for what is actually a very good movie.
Enchanted begins in old school animated fashion. Our characters are hand drawn with big eyes and singing their hearts out, much to the delight of all the forest creatures. The story centers on princess Giselle played extremely well by Amy Adams who has started making her mark as of late, most notably being the only good thing about Talladega Nights, but she absolutely owns Enchanted with everyone else supporting her along the way.
Princess Giselle is lined up to marry her fairy tale Prince Edward (James Marsden) in the land of Andalasia. Upon hearing the news Giselle is banished to find real world Manhattan. Initially unaware that she has gone anywhere she keeps her fairy tale alive, but soon she realizes she ain’t in Andalasia anymore. The comedic moments of the film are derived out of this premise as Giselle sings to the animals and lives out a traditional Disney animated film in real world New York, the irony is enough to give you a few laughs.
A major plus going for the film is its cast. I already mentioned Adams, but Marsden as the pompous Prince Edward is perfect as he refers to anyone not of royalty (everyone in Manhattan) as peasants and as he attacks buses as if they were vicious fantasy beasts. Patrick Dempsey is pretty much your every man character as he becomes Giselle’s live-action love interest and Susan Sarandon was perfect casting as far as the evil Queen Narissa goes.
Director Kevin Lima proved to be a good choice even though his filmography may look rather limited in terms of top notch directing gigs. He was a part of the Aladdin story team, part of the Beauty and the Beast art department, a character designer on The Little Mermaid and he co-directed the underappreciated Tarzan back in 1999. Suffice to say, he’d done his homework.
I can’t imagine most people not finding enjoyment in this movie, especially mothers with their daughters, even though I don’t think it is strictly a “for girls” kind of movie. I hope Enchanted finds its audience because it feels like it may be one of those movies that goes unjustly overlooked.
