Just got back from seeing Disney's 'Enchanted'. This film is brilliant, and a fresh step back to the Disney of old that we (well, most) all know and love. It's doesn't so much contain elements that are a parody of Disney film and animation, but rather what I would call homages. It simply is a beautiful little film. Sure, it's quite predictable, but it's also what would have been a classic fairytale with a twist.
The animation, though not actually animated by Disney animators (but by an outside studio primarily run by ex-Disney animators) is quite gorgeous, and the whole animated beginning just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. I personally think that if Walt was still alive, he'd probably approve very much. It just felt so right, like one of his own animated films, but with a touch more paint. From the choral beginnings, to the animals singing... it's just Disney as it was meant to be.
And then we get to point where Giselle falls into the real world; it's very touching in its own way, and Amy Adams is PERFECT to a tee. I will never be able to say that enough. She is so genuine, elegant, beautiful, and her characterizations are exactly as if she's come straight out of the animation itself. Her as Giselle actually made me fall in love with her. I'm talking about a full on emotional attachment to this girl, and I'm prepared to travel the world to find her, she's simply stunning. I want my own Giselle NOW. She's the girl I would love to have my fairytale marriage with.
Okay, personal character attachments aside, the film also helms a really great supporting cast, that are very funny, and outlandish. James Marsden once again proves how talented he is, not just with his set of pipes, but his comedic skills too. We also have Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel (I love me some Idina, though I don't expect most of you would know who the hell she is - we'll just call her a Broadway star for now), Timothy Spall; who I didn't actually know was in the film before seeing it, but once I saw his character in the animation, I knew exactly who it was before he even spoke. The likeness, and accuracy of his facial expressions are quite spooky. And last, but not least is Susan Sarandon, who has quite a small part, at least in the real world, not in the grand scheme of things.
The songs, well, there are only 3 performed in the film as musical numbers, with a couple of pop songs strung into the background too, not sung by the characters. The ones that feature as musical numbers are again written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz who are responsible for the majority of songs in the 90's golden age of Disney film's, such as Pocahontas, Aladdin, etc. Those songs are really very pleasant, and tuneful, and I wish that we could have had more!
The film is full of little tributes to older Disney films, not only animated, but also with acting parts from past voice actresses (sorry, that's the Disney dweeb coming out of me, I could pick them all), snippets of memorable songs and the likeness of some familiar and maybe not so familiar characters. It's very funny, charming, smart, and for lack of a better word, enchanting... watch it, and you'll most likely be pleasantly surprised by how much you really enjoy it. 'Meet the Robinson's' was a good little film, but I think that this film is really the true return to the quality, family film that Disney became famous for.
As a side note, a mixture of the first and second trailer to 2008 Disney/Pixar film 'WALL-E' played before the movie, and judging by the reactions from around me, it's certainly going to be a hit. It's already a gem in my eyes.