Enchanted starts off with traditional 2-D animation: The beautiful damsel, Giselle, is a cartoon character straight from the mould of the classic Disney princesses--a wide-eyed innocent with the ability to communicate with woodland animals, a penchant for tidying, a talent for sewing, and a singular obsession of finding her one true love, Giselle evokes the Girly Girly Trinity: Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. Indeed, elements from each of this trio’s tales are borrowed to provide the audience with a decided sense of déjà vu.

When Giselle literally falls into the lap of her intended, a prince on a white charger who has been yearning for the sight and sound of her, they sing a duet of love. But all is not well in their fairy-tale world. Prince Edward’s stepmother is hell-bent on her stepson staying single, for his marrying will cause Giselle to become queen, thus usurping step-mom’s queenly status. What are the chances Giselle will be waylaid and hurled to the bottom of a wishing well? Pretty high, you’d think, and you’d be right. But what happens next turns the traditional fairy tale on its head, for when Giselle emerges unscathed from the other end, she has taken on 3-D human form, and what’s more, finds herself in present-day Manhattan, a place not particularly known for happy-ever-afters.

With her very limited knowledge of the world, her innocence and a steely determination, Giselle sets off to find and wed her beloved prince. Unbeknownst to her, Prince Edward has followed her to this world, likewise attaining human form, together with a talking squirrel now rendered CGI and speech-impaired. The favourite henchman of the queen has also been dispatched to keep the two young lovers apart. While they bumble around trying to connect with one another in this strange and exhilarating world so different from their own, they meet real people, including a jaded divorce lawyer and his little daughter, and get into all kinds of hilarious scrapes.

Will Giselle really fall for the single dad whose little daughter yearns for fairy tales but gets judo lessons and anthologies of famous women instead? Will Prince Edward get himself arrested as he rides on top of transit buses wielding his sword at all and sundry? Will the queen’s henchman run out of poison apples? Will the queen herself, disgusted by her henchman’s inefficiency, manifest herself at the ball where the lovers dance their first, and perhaps, last dance?

That Enchanted is predictable and formulaic is a given, but there is much to enjoy in this gentle spoofing of Disney classics. There is a prevailing sense of self-deprecating fun, a tongue-in-cheek approach to traditional set-pieces that are a joy to watch. More than anything else, the casting of Amy Adams in the role of Giselle is a stroke of genius upon which the success of the whole movie is predicated. Adams is Giselle, or any other Disney princess, personified. With her wide-eyed beauty, her endearing smile and mannerisms, and the charming innocence she portrays with seeming effortlessness, Adams evokes the sense of wonder that, more than anything else, distinguishes and marks fairy-tale heroines. An added bonus is Adams' beautiful singing voice which she uses to such great effect in both solos and duets.

That's not to take away from the fine performances of the supporting cast: James Marsden boasts an arresting singing voice and gives a superb, comic turn as the simple Prince Edward, stealing every scene he's in. Timothy Spall as the queen's henchman and Susan Sarandon as the evil queen ham it up for all they're worth. Only Patrick Dempsey gives a weak performance as the wet-blanket single dad. You'd think anyone cast against Adams would be glowing with desire, but not McDreamy, oh no.

Oh, and the moral of the story? Happily-ever-after is not just for fairy tales.


Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4