Enchanted: A real-life fairy tale

Enchanted starts as a cartoon fairy tale like many others: A young maiden named Giselle (Amy Adams) lives in a forest and longs to find true love, and does so in the chivalrous Prince Edward (James Marsden), heir to the throne of Andalasia. However, on their wedding day, Edward’s wicked stepmother, Narissa (Susan Sarandon), fearing the princess-to-be will usurp her throne, banishes Giselle from her kingdom.

If it seems Disney and director Kevin Lima (102 Dalmatians) have looked to animated classics for inspiration, they have, but with a twist. Narissa sends Giselle to “a place where there are no happily ever afters” — Times Square in New York City. When she arrives, the film transforms from animation to live action, and with the transition comes a fresh take on the classic story.

Because Giselle still sings and acts as if she’s in a cartoon, New Yorkers think she’s crazy. But nothing stops her cheery disposition, including a night of slumming it on city streets. She’s ultimately found by a real-world hero, a single dad named Robert (Patrick Dempsey, Grey’s Anatomy), whose daughter (Rachel Covey) doesn’t necessarily like his current girlfriend (Idina Menzel, a Broadway star who, curiously, doesn’t sing here). They take in Giselle and warm to her while Narissa sends a stooge (Timothy Spall) to New York to make sure Edward doesn’t reunite with his beloved Giselle.

There are subtle references to other Disney classics, including a rooftop climax a la Beauty and the Beast, a missing slipper in an ode to Cinderella and a cute take on the song “Whistle While You Work” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that’s both charming and revolting. What’s more, almost all of the musical numbers are a resounding success, with good singing by principal cast members and some inspired choreography, particularly during a delightfully fun Central Park song-and-dance.

The real pleasures of Enchanted, however, come from watching Adams, Marsden, Spall and (to a smaller extent) Sarandon overact. You may not have realized how silly the simplistic emotions, grandiose mannerisms and high-spirited voices are in animated fare until you’ve seen the characters in the real world. As Giselle, Adams is a successful amalgamation of just about every Disney heroine we know and love, complete with the beauty, innocence and naiveté of a helpless girl who needs her brave prince to rescue her. Her chemistry with Marsden is spot-on as well, as they convey a believable affection between Giselle and Edward while keeping the tacky sentiment of the story firmly in mind. The over-the-top acting gets a tad annoying, sure, but try to imagine Snow White or Cinderella in the real world — would it be any different? It’s doubtful.

And therein lies the true appeal of Enchanted: Disney made the film with tongue firmly planted in cheek, openly poking fun at the on-screen fairy tale conventions it helped create. Kudos to the venerable Mouse House for putting a new spin on a classic tale and doing it so well.