Enchanted (2007)

February 05, 2009

Netflix Live Stream, Seattle, WA

*** / ****

File:Enchantedposter.jpg

By Scott Muoio

Enchanted is the kind of movie that makes a viewer continually scratch her head as it effortlessly wins her over. But then how else could a movie play that features a Disney style Princess thrust into New York City by an evil sorceress who wants to keep her princely son single? OK. Maybe success isn’t a guarantee, but Enchanted nevertheless delivers as a perfectly cast combination of little girl fairy tale meets real world romantic comedy with a twist.

The movie begins with an animated prologue that introduces us to the typical lot of fairy tale characters. Giselle (Amy Adams) is the ever-at-risk, chirpy wannabe princess whose eyes and smile are as wide and lovely as her singing voice is sweet and beautiful. Narissa (Susan Sarandon) is the dastardly sorceress who despises Giselle for her kindness, beauty, and because she’d like to keep her stepson, the object of Giselle’s affection single. Edward (James Marsden) is Narissa’s stepson and the prince du jour, a troll slaying, purple tight wearing hunk of fairy tale machismo. Then there are the sidekicks: a talking squirrel named Pip (voiced by Jeff Bennett) and Narissa’s manservant Nathaniel (Timothy Spall), a pair that endlessly joust to save and sabotage, respectively the glorious heroes.

Banishing Giselle to an evil, far away place where there are no happy endings (New York City!), one by one the rest of the characters follow in the hope of securing their agenda: Edward wants Giselle as his princess. Narissa wants her dead. Nathaniel wants to appease Narissa. And Pip wants to do what animals in cartoons always do: help the lovers unite. There is, of course, a catch: his name is Robert.

Robert (Patrick Dempsey) is a single dad and divorce lawyer who helps Giselle try to find her way in Manhattan. His daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey), of course, loves the idea of a real princess in her life and bonds with Giselle instantly. Robert’s girlfriend Nancy (Idina Menzel) however isn’t too thrilled with her beau’s cute new perky female friend with a ball gown fetish.

One thing leads to another, the fish out of water fairy tale characters sing, frolic, stumble and inevitably charm everyone and everything in their path, including the viewer, and in the end everyone lives happily ever after.

Did I spoil the movie with my description? Of course not! Following all the fairy tale rules is partially why Enchanted is thoroughly entertaining. The other part is the charming performances and the process of watching the characters wrangle with New York City realities we’ve come to know and appreciate. Throw in a few winks and nudges to the obvious absurdity of the premise and Enchanted morphs into a movie seemingly written for no one and yet easily appreciated by nearly everyone.

Director: Kevin Lima

Producer: Barry Josephson, Barry Sonnenfeld

Writer: Bill Kelly

Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey, Susan Sarandon

Original Music: Alan Menken

Cinematographer: Don Burgess