"I defy the cynics not to be wiping at least one little tear away from under their 3D  glasses..."

Disney Studio's have a long tradition of bringing the classic fairytale to life and becoming the defining version of that story. Who can think of anyone but Ariel when thinking of the The Little Mermaid, or Belle when we think of Beauty and The Beast. So the question is, will Tangled become the definitive version of Rapunzel that we all come to know and love? Tangled is Disney Studio's 50th feature animation, and although the story of Rapunzel, isn't the most iconic or particularly seminal film to hail 50 years of Disney greatness, it's endeavors into animation perfection herald a new era for the Disney Fairytale.

Tangled is the tale of Rapunzel, the girl with the long hair, locked in a tower by her wicked 'Mother' who wants to keep Rapunzel's magical healing hair for her own selfish uses. At the other end of the Kingdom, is a dashing young thief, with no roots, and a bit of a loan wolf, who's fast paced world accidentally collides with Rapunzel's sheltered one, when he climbs her tower to escape the King's guards. Tangled is a much punchier and wittier affair than a lot of Disney Princess tales, and at times feels like a vibrant Pixar style version of a fairytale, helped by the fact that it's made in 3D. Although the directors claim that they're biggest influence for Tangled's visual style, was the classic illustration styles of film's like Sleeping Beauty to add a touch of Disney nostalgia, I couldn't help but fail to see this style referenced anywhere, the colours were bright and the animation was quick and modern, and the film literally jumped off of the screen.

If the the script and dialogue were witty, the characters themselves were well developed and thought out enough to carry their witty lines well. Rapunzel herself is a charming mix of 18 year old naivety and headstrong defiance, which was shown brilliantly in one of my favourite comedy moments from the film, when Rapunzel, upon finally escaping her tower, goes through several hours of emotional roller coasting, going from shock and remorse at her defiance of her Mother, to manic jubilation and ecstasy at finally being free. She swings back and forth through these conflicting emotions a dozen times much to the disbelief and annoyance of her partner in crime, the handsome, Flynn.

Flynn's character, in complete contrast to the gentle Prince Charming's of the Sleeping Beauty days of Disney, is an arrogant but lovable rogue. One step further than cheeky Aladdin, and almost bordering on the bad guy persona, it's refreshing to see a character develop and change on screen, and his cocky attitude means Flynn gets to be a much funnier and more interesting character. The two leads are supported by the usual Disney menagerie of animal friends, Rapunzel's pet chameleon is almost as funny as Aladdin's side kick Abu, and will definitely be a hit with the kids, as will noble stead Maximus, hell bent on tracking down Flynn, who is on the run from the palace guards. Maxiumus is probably the funniest supporting character and his blood hound type ability's to sniff out bad guys and always be ready for a fight,all without uttering a word, are truly hilarious to watch.

Personally the only aspect of Tangled that I felt disappointed with was the soundtrack. Although the songs were written by the legendary Alan Menken, who brought us classics like Under The Sea and Part of Your world, and has the most Oscar's than any other living composer in Oscar history, they were fairly forgettable and were by no means up to his usual standard of catchy song, or beautiful heart wrenching medley that as a die hard Disney fan, I've come to expect. However despite this, the script and the story were wondefully moving and well thought out enough to bring more than enough emotion to the film, and I found myself laughing out loud all the way through, right up until the end when I cried buckets! I think Tangled will be a great family film, as adults and children will appreciate the humour on different levels, and the timeless Disney attention to detail and superb animation appeals to every age. I defy the cynics not to be wiping at least one little tear away from under their 3D  glasses.