While most TV ads misrepresent their movies and turn audiences away, I must admit that the ads for Enchanted worked. I did notice them, and I thought that it looked funny. I wasn't enchanted enough to go to the theatre, but my home system is bigger and better than most multiplexes anyway, and besides, when you see a roll-on-the-floor funny movie, its best if the floor isn't covered in popcorn and bubblegum. (Note to self: We really should clean the living room floor someday!)

Enchanted is the most recent semi-animated neo-classic musical from the House of Mouse (aka Disney). The basic premise is fairly simple. In the distant animated kingdom of Andalasia, Giselle (Amy Adams) lives in the forest in harmony with the wild critters (led by Pip the Chipmunk) while she waits for her prince to come. However, Prince Edward (James Marsden), the only local inhabitant that qualifies, is being sidetracked by his friend Nathaniel (Timothy Spall), who is actually a thrall of the Prince's evil stepmother, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon). It seems that the Queen, who unsurprisingly (especially to the NRA) is also an evil sorceress, will lose her influence if the Prince marries, so she intends to make sure he never does.

Then one day while out in the forest hunting trolls, Prince Edward hears Giselle singing. In moments, with hardly a wham, bam, thank you Maam in sight, Giselle and Prince Edward are heading for the altar. However, the Queen ambushes Giselle on her wedding day, and sends her to the butt-end of the universe, which is, of course, Manhattan in general, and a manhole in the middle of Times Square in particular. Now as it happens, I have walked over that manhole many times personally (well not actually over, those who live in the NYC area know better than to step on manholes, gratings and the like) to which I can only say, who knew? Of course, entering our world leaves the animation behind, and Giselle now looks like Amy Adams as well as sounding like her.

Naturally Giselle, as a sweet, good-natured country girl in NYC, is alternately ignored, stepped on, robbed and exploited. However, things look up when she meets Morgan (Rachel Covey) an adorable six-year-old girl who believes in fairy tales, and her divorce-lawyer dad, Robert Phillip (Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy from Grey's Anatomy)). Robert, who is cynical and hard-bitten, has a problem making commitments. Nevertheless, despite her crazy appearance and obvious (to anyone who does not know about Andalasia) mental illness, he takes Giselle into his home (probably because she is a major babe --- hot, hot, hot). His kindness is quickly rewarded when Nancy, his girlfriend of 5 years, walks in to find Robert lying on the floor with a mostly-naked Giselle on top of him. Although this was, in fact, totally innocent, even I did not believe it, and I saw it happen. (Don't worry parents, the adult humor (and there is plenty) is pitched well above children's heads, and there is lots of kid level humor to distract them.)

Meanwhile Pip, who can talk in Andalasia but has to resort to charades in Manhattan, tells Prince Edward where Giselle has gone, and naturally he and Pip come after her, and the Queen sends Nathanial to make sure he does not succeed.

The rest of the movie is a hilarious singing and dancing romp, where everything is either unrelentingly grim (real world) or happy-happy joy-joy. While it is tempting to say that the rest of the movie is predictable that is not even close to true. What happens is predictable, after all this is a fairy tale, but how it happens is entirely twisted, warped, sick and funny. Throughout Enchanted the Mouse repeatedly makes reference to and parodies the classic movies of its early years. This leads to some of the most roll-on-the-floor (I was wondering where that fork was) funny scenes in the movie. For example the singing kitchen clean up scene from Snow White (or was it Mary Poppins?) takes on an entirely new life when re-enacted with Manhattan's local wildlife.

Amy Adams is an absolute joy in this role. No matter how absurd the situation, she makes us believe that she believes it, which makes everything else possible. Pip (the chipmunk) steals every scene his is in. The music is good; it is a Disney movie after all. The dance sequences are excellent (and often hilarious too). While some of the roles are two dimensional (hey, they're cartoons), others are much more complex. The most interesting characters are Giselle (no surprise there) and Nathaniel, who both start out as two dimensional cartoon characters both literally and spiritually, but due to their experiences in our world, learn to become real people. However, others that make the trip, like the Prince, never progress beyond their toon persona. That makes for tons of misunderstandings, mishaps and mayhem.

All told, Enchanted is a wonderful effort, and by far the best Mouse presentation I have seen in years. Anyone who still has a little bit of child left in their soul will love this movie. It is both eminently enjoyable and infinitely rewatchable. 5 stars and highly recommended.   

Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4