I have a confession to make. I have a soft spot in my heart for modern Disney animated musicals. Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite movies of all time. Aladdin and Little Mermaid hold a spot in my DVD collection. So I knew I wanted to see this movie when it came out.
Luckily, the Thanksgiving holiday allowed me and my wife to take my niece and nephew to see it, so as to avoid the cautious stares from other parents if we went to see it without kids in tow.
In a word, this movie is charming. If I had onlyt one word to describe thie film, that would be the word. Charming.
The movie acts as a variation, a tribute and a subtle parody of the typical Disney musical. Points should be give for having the music done by Alan Menken, co-writer of the music for Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules and Pocohontas, and Stephen Schwartz, who provided the words and music for the excellent Broadway fairy tale, Wicked. This tandem is can't miss. I hope Pixar, who is in charge of all animation for Disney now, can add a few traditionally animated films to Disney's slate and have these two provide the music.
The acting is great as well. Susan Sarandon excels as the villainess. She had the toughest job of all the actors. She went from animation, to acting under heavy make up, to voicing a CGI dragon and kept the characterization throughout.
Points go also to Amy Adams, who typifies the classic Disney princess throughout the movie with sincerity and believability. And I was especially impressed with James Marsden as the Prince. He throws himself totally in the role and creates a goofy and funny performance.
Enchanted might not change the world, or challenge your way of thinking, but it is a fun diversion and a blast.
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