Rating of
3/4
Adams is absolutely perfect
newmans_own - wrote on 11/22/07
The film is chock full of references to past Disney animated films. Giselle herself is an amalgam of Snow White, Belle and Ariel (if only because of Adam’s long red hair). But when the plot seems so focused on the throwbacks, especially SNOW WHITE, the whole thing becomes a bit tired and clichéd. The film’s finale, therefore, doesn’t come off as particularly exciting. We all know exactly how the story is going to end, even if there are a few 21st century twists along the way.
The real reason for the film’s success, and where most of its charm lies, is in Amy Adams’s live action performance. She is a Disney princess brought to life, and there’s nothing more to say about it. Skipping and singing through the early parts of the film, in a nearly unwieldy dress no less, she appears to have had every Disney cartoon implanted into her brain. Her sweetness and sadness are so animated and sympathetic, Giselle ranks up there with Belle, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. This is a breakthrough performance for Adams, who will probably have to prepare herself for hordes of 10-year-old fans for the rest of her life.
The filmmakers and audience are so enamored with the comic possibilities invented that the sense of danger rarely pervades the scene. And indeed, the dramatic finale seems tacked onto the rest of the proceedings. But that does not deflate the sense of charm that viewers of all ages will be infected by. While not as clever a self-parody as other films, Adams’s inspired performance and light, breezy tone make ENCHANTED the perfect family film for the holidays. Even if the animation does not rank with Disney’s most artistic, the film is a fond look back to what came before and an optimistic look at what lies in store.
***/****
Full review at http://newmanscorner.blogspot.com
