Friday, November 23, 2007

At the Movies ..... Enchanted


Enchanted is a new Disney Studios release that uses live action, traditional animation, and CGI film techniques to tell the story of Giselle (Amy Adams) who lives in the blissfully animated world of Andalasia, where magical beings frolic freely and musical interludes punctuate every interaction. Though Giselle is currently engaged to the handsome, valiant (and bumbling) Prince Edward (James Marsden), her fate takes a turn for the worse when his evil stepmother, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), throws her through a magic portal, apparently to her doom. But Giselle's plunge into darkness actually lands her in a strange new world - unforgiving New York City. As the cruelty of this new place wears down the fairy-tale idealism of the once carefree princess, the frightened Giselle soon finds herself falling for a friendly, flawed, and soon-to-be-engaged divorce lawyer Rob Philip (Patrick Dempsey), whose blend of compassion and street smarts help her survive and build a happy life in a harsh, cynical, and jaded town. While Rob is initially a difficult host, he and his 6-year-old daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey) also begin to be won over by the strange beauty's charms.

The movie is very well cast and features tons of "Easter Egg-style" script references, visual nods and cameos by some previous Disney princesses and others; although you wouldn't recognize most of them from their voiceover work on such animated classics as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast or Pocahontas. [Google the trivia aspects of the movie for this info.] Amy Adams really breathes life into Giselle and totally sells the notion that a fairy tale cartoon princess could exist in the real world. You'll want to meet Giselle and become caught up in her innocent point of view. Each of the other actors adds something wonderful to the film and Patrick Dempsey rises above his 'Grey's Anatomy Dr. McDreamy' status with a nice turn as the jaded Rob, who eventually softens enough to accept the world of possibility that Giselle opens for him.

See this movie with your family or loved one and you'll find yourself ... Enchanted, for real!

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