Enchanted (2007)

14 December 2007

synopsis
expand

A classic Disney fairytale collides with modern-day New York City in a story about a fairytale princess (AMY ADAMS) from the past who is thrust into present-day by an evil queen (SUSAN SARANDON).

A lively, original fish-out-of-water comedy and a modern twist on the classic Disney fairytales, ENCHANTED blends fantasy, action, music, CG effects, hand-drawn animation and live-action to create a wholly unique romantic comedy for all ages. Featuring an all-star cast, ENCHANTED is directed by KEVIN LIMA ("Tarzan", "Eloise at Christmastime") and produced by BARRY JOSEPHSON ("Hide and Seek", television's "Bones") and BARRY SONNENFELD (both "Men in Black" films, television's "Pushing Daisies"). It is written by BILL KELLY ("Premonition", "Blast from the Past"). The film is executive-produced by CHRIS CHASE ("Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch", "Return To Never Land", "Tarzan"), SUNIL PERKASH ("Premonition", "Blast from the Past") and EZRA SWERDLOW ("Invincible", "Little Manhattan"). The film features original songs from the reunited team of acclaimed composer ALAN MENKEN and lyricist STEPHEN SCHWARTZ ("Pocahontas", "Hunchback of Notre Dame").

For the lovely Giselle (Adams), life is a fairytale...literally. She has everything needed to make a perfect princess - a beautiful countenance, a pure heart, a lovely singing voice and an uncanny ability to communicate with animals - all the good things one would expect in her world of Andalasia... which just happens to be animated. Giselle's wish to meet the handsome prince of her dreams and share "true love's kiss" comes true when Prince Edward (JAMES MARSDEN) hears her lilting soprano raised in song and rushes to her side.

The very next day, on her way to wed Edward, Giselle falls under the spell (literally) of Queen Narissa (Sarandon), who will stop at nothing to keep this girl away from her throne. Giselle is banished to a place as far away from this fairytale kingdom as you can get... no longer an animated character in a colorful, musical land, she is transformed into a very real woman and transported to a very unmagical place: modern day Manhattan.

Coming to her aid in this strange new place, the almost-princess is befriended by a no-nonsense divorce lawyer, Robert (Dempsey), and his young daughter, Morgan (RACHEL COVEY). When Giselle's no-longer-animated Prince Edward, along with his servant, Nathaniel (TIMOTHY SPALL), and Giselle's best-friend and chipmunk, Pip all arrive in New York, she experiences her two worlds colliding and finds herself wondering whether her storybook view of romance, complete with "happily every after", can survive in our world.

The film's wide-ranging cast of fantastical and contemporary characters is brought to life by an accomplished corps of actors that includes: Academy Award nominee AMY ADAMS ("Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby", "Charlie Wilson's War", "Junebug"), PATRICK DEMPSEY (television's "Grey's Anatomy", "Sweet Home Alabama"), JAMES MARSDEN ("Hairspray", "Superman Returns"), TIMOTHY SPALL ("Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", "The Last Hangman"), IDINA MENZEL ("Rent", "Ask the Dust") and Academy Award winner SUSAN SARANDON ("Mr. Woodcock", "Shall We Dance").

Bringing to life the film's mix of Manhattan grit and fairytale glimmer is a creative team that includes: director of photography DON BURGESS ("Eight Below", "The Polar Express"); production designer STUART WURTZEL ("Charlotte's Web", "Little Manhattan"); editors STEPHEN A. ROTTER ("Yours, Mine and Ours", "The Parent Trap") and GREGORY PERLER ("Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit", "Tarzan"); costume designer MONA MAY ("Haunted Mansion", "Miles from Home"); and music supervisor DAWN SOLER ("The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement"). ENCHANTED features music from the reunited team of acclaimed and multiple Oscar-winning composer and lyricist ALAN MENKEN and STEPHEN SCHWARTZ ("Pocahontas", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame").

advertisement
expand
photographs
expand
fan ratings
expand

  No-one has rated this movie yet - be the first! You must be logged in to rate a movie.

our review
expand

"far from being nauseatingly smiley, Adams is utterly believable and had a room full of critics laughing"

This is one of my favourite Disney productions for a long time. And how could it fail? Enchanted takes all the most magical ingredients of a fairy tale and mixes them with a few modern truths like divorce, dirt and OTT publicity stunts.

Sparkling Amy Adams easily steals the show. A princess, she is pushed down a well by her evil soon-to-be stepmother (Susan Sarandon) and finds herself in the heart of New York City. As she searches for her Prince Charming in Manhattan's grimy streets she never stops smiling and makes friends - and dresses- along the way.

Far from being nauseatingly smiley, Adams is utterly believable and had a room full of critics laughing throughout; and even prompted applause at the end. My favourite part has to be the Marry Poppins inspired cleaning scene, where cute bunnies are replaced by urban rats and cockroaches!

Being from the generation of 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' and given the advancement of special effects, I found the occasional animation somewhat unnecessary. However, I have no doubt that director Kevin Lima has created a movie that will put young and old under a glorious, candy floss spell, restoring everyone's belief in happily ever afters.

poster
expand
poster
buy poster
film information
expand
video media
expand