Disney’s catchy ‘Enchanted’

Honorable Mention

Review

Division 3

Disney’s catchy ‘Enchanted’

Liz Mitton

Grade 12

The Mountaineer

Ephrata HS

Advisers: Gemma Rasmus and Jeremy Bischoff

“Enchanted” is a story that tells of a cartoon princess-to-be, Gisele (Amy Adams), who is pushed into a well by her future mother-in-law, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), moments before her wedding to Prince Edward (James Marsden). The well transports her into love action NYC, so when Gisele suddenly lands in a world so different from her own, she is confused, lost, and cannot find anyone to help her. Gisele meets Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter, Morgan (Rachel Covey). Although Robert believes Gisele is insane, through time the two become friends.

The clash between the “real world” and the “fantasy land” is canny, hilarious, and highly amusing. Unlike many movies where the entirety of the film is focused in the obvious culture clash, “Enchanted” quickly addressed the issue, enough to fulfill any questions posed, and then moves on to the rest of the plot line.

The transitions from the animated world to NYC are crafty. Gisele, who sings a simple song as a call to deer, squirrels, and birds, now calls to rats, pigeons, and cockroaches. Although the city animals are not usually calm, Gisele finds it within herself to tame rodents and make a dirty house look sparkling new.

Gisele doesn’t realize that breaking out into song in the middle of a stroll in Central Park isn’t considered normal, but instead charms the crowd into singing with her, perhaps beginning her official welcome to the city.

As little less fortunate, but just as naïve, Prince Edward makes a humorous jump from a low bridge onto the sidewalk. He begins to sing a stanza and is promptly run over by a group of cyclists, signaling his clumsy transition onto New York.

The struggles and lessons the characters face is what adds to the sweetness and charm of the film. Learning from each other’s life styles, Robert and Gisele are baffled at the ignorance they believe each to possess. This film is entertaining enough to make children laugh at a talking squirrel; communicate with a Prince and for teenagers and adults to snicker at the innuendos and naïve ignorance.

Although the ending was far fetched and cliché, it only added to the cheesiness that can be expected from a Disney movie. As a dragon came alive, I realized that what I was watching didn’t really happen and for that matter, never could happen.

Slightly disappointed by the realization, I came back into reality as the movie ended- only then had I realized how quickly the last two hours had passed. Satisfied with the way I had spent a hard earned nine dollars, I left the theater in a pleasant mood, wondering when “Enchanted” would be actually released to DVD to watch again.