Enchanted

Enchanted
November 21, 2007
Disney
Fantasy, Musical, Romance
DVD
B

A gentle self-parody by Disney of the whole Princess phenomenon, this is also a tour de force by Amy Adams, who manages to keep her character, sweet and naive Giselle (not actually a princess but "in love with" a prince), intact while still adding complexity.  And when she breaks into song, especially the extravaganza of "That's How You Know," it's hard not to be swept away.  Patrick Dempsey as Robert Philip, the cynical New Yorker whom she falls for, provides some balance in tone, although he, too, is won over.  Interestingly, their initial love interests, James Marsden as Prince Edward and Idina Menzel as Nancy, are not put down to push the main romance forward and in fact find their own Happily Ever After.  (Menzel would go on to be the voice of Elsa in Frozen.)  The other potential couple is Timothy "Wormtail" Spall as Nathaniel and his sexy but evil Queen Narissa, played just right by Susan Sarandon.  Julie Andrews briefly narrates and there are a whole bunch of Disney references throughout the movie.  (My favorite was the Bella Notte restaurant, a subtler Lady and the Tramp joke than in Flushed Away.)  If the movie never quite makes it to "classic" status, it does at least hold up to repeat viewings.  (In the first year of its release, I kept happening to watch it again, including in the unlikely setting of a ferry to the Shetland Islands.)

Harvey Evans was a Chimney Sweep Dancer in Mary Poppins, more than 40 years before he dances here.  Margaret Travolta was Rob's Mom in High Fidelity and does more voicework here as a Radio Therapist.  Amir Raissi was Eli's Egyptian Friend in The Royal Tenenbaums and is a dancer here.  Steven Weisz, who was a Charity Ball Attendee in Two Weeks Notice, is a Stunned Pedestrian here.  Thelma O'Leary was a Concert Attendee in Music and Lyrics and is a Park Attendee here, while Robert Sciglimpaglia was a Class of 1987 Alumnus there and plays a Ball Room Guest here.

"You know this song, too?"