An enchanted and wonderful movie!

Rating: 9/10 (16 August 2015)

This is an animated-meets-live action movie where Princess-To-Be Giselle (Amy Adams) is prepared to wed Prince Edward (James Marsden), to the dismay of his evil stepmother, Queen Narissa, because she will lose her throne. She banishes Giselle faraway to New York, where she ends up befriending a lawyer (Patrick Dempsey).
This is a nostalgic movie that brings back memories of animated Disney classics. When these animated characters run into the real world, you are asked to let your imagination run wild as these animated characters turn into real life - a very clever touch and concept. What results is a well-paced story from start to finish as we follow along the magic, fun, adventures and music - from Giselle trying to adjust to her new surroundings in New York to Prince Edward searching for her in the city, with the Queen and her henchman Nathaniel (Timothy Spall) in hot pursuit.
Amy Adams does an excellent job portraying Giselle, having the personality and traits of that of a fairytale princess - graceful, prim and proper, as does James Marsden in portraying Prince Edward - gallant, brave and strapping. Alan Menken brings back the musical magic of Disney with his score, and the songs he and Stephen Schwartz wrote were delightful (I especially like the catchy and top-tapping dance number, That's How You Know).
Kevin Lima did a great job directing and included in the film just about everything that makes a classic Disney movie: beautiful hand-drawn animation, magic, songs, prince, princess, evil queen, talking animals, castle, sword-fight, just to name a few. I love how it references past Disney movies, from casting actresses Jodi Benson (voice of Ariel), Paige O'Hara (voice of Belle) and Judy Kuhn (singing voice of Pocahontas), to including the song "Part of Your World" in the soundtrack and having a restaurant named "Belle Notte." I just wished we saw more of the Prince Edward character, as I thought he could have contributed more to the plot, and would have liked to see more of Susan Sarandon's Queen Narissa character in the city, spewing magic spells everywhere on unsuspecting people.
Overall, though, this is a perfect film for the entire family that delivers all the fun, innocence, charm, adventure, drama, romance and friendship that lets you forget about your worries and enjoy what life has to offer.
Grade A-