Don't be fooled by its partially animated and fully Disney exterior - Enchanted is actually a romantic comedy in disguise. Take away the animated chipmunk named Pip and the fictional land of Andalasia, and what do you have? You have a good old-fashioned love triangle, the oldest romantic comedy trick in the book.
The opening scenes of Enchanted are refreshingly nostalgic, with the first 15 minutes running in the 2-D Disney animation of yesteryear. Although younger audiences may not remember the flatter days of The Little Mermaid, our generation knew nothing else. Modern animation exclusively relies on computer-generated images, so Disney audiences old and new are happily embracing the classic technique. Amy Adams plays the perennially happy Giselle, a woman wistfully waiting for her one true love. As she is assembling a prototype of her dream man (something that happens in every girl's bedroom), an ogre snatches her out of her house (something that thankfully doesn't happen in every girl's bedroom). Never fear, as Giselle's knight in shining armor, Prince Edward (flawlessly portrayed by James Marsden) promptly saves her. The two then fall in love faster than you can say "The Bachelor."
The movie should be over then, right? The fair maiden found her prince, they are set to marry. What else could possibly happen? A lot apparently, as the next hour and 15 minutes of Enchanted are infinitely better than the first 15. In an effort to keep the crown, Queen Narissa (portrayed exquisitely by Susan Sarandon) disguises herself as an old hag and pushes Giselle into a magical wishing well, to a "place with no happy endings" - New York City.
Adams shines when Giselle climbs through a manhole into Times Square, conveying a sense of wonderment and confusion. She glides through Manhattan, trying to find a friendly face. Enter Patrick Dempsey. He plays the cynical divorce lawyer and single father, Robert. Giselle is of course alien to Robert - too cheery, too hopeful about love. The two butt heads at first, but grow to love each other. Enter love triangle between Giselle, Robert, and Prince Edward. You will have to watch the movie to see which man she ends up with.
The best part about Enchanted isn't the fabulous performances, or the classic animation, but three original musical numbers. Disney super-composers Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz worked their magic again, creating instant hits with "True Love's Kiss," "Happy Little Working Song," and "That's How You Know." Retro musical numbers accompany the songs - especially the scene featuring the third song, a fantastic '60s throwback. The DVD features share the making of these great scenes with the world, interviewing the cast, crew, and composers. This is by far the best feature on the disk, as the bloopers left much to be desired.
Enchanted may seem like a children's movie, but it proved itself to be an entertaining film for all ages. It is an instant classic that deserves a spot on the shelf next to Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. A-
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