Charming, funny and accessible

Rating: 7/10 (1 May 2010)

I found Enchanted to be a pleasant surprise. It appears to be a standard Disney offering, but the excellent cast, and clever, witty script, elevates this to a classy film which pastiches earlier classic Disneys without parodying them.
The story opens nicely as a classic animated tale of our innocent, lovely heroine (Giselle, nicely portrayed by Amy Adams), is united with her Prince Charming (Edward, ably played and sung by James Marsden) and to me married on the next day. The formula is completed when Edward's step-mother (Queen Narissa) thwarts the union by disguising herself as an old crone who proceeds to push poor Giselle down a magical wishing well, to a place where there are 'no happy endings'.
The realisation of the animation and live characters is very nicely down and plays on the conventions classic animated films - the two- dimensional true love and tidy, idyllic world of Andalasia and its bland, ballad-singing Prince Edward, compared with the cynical lawyer who reluctantly rescues Giselle shortly after her emergence from in New York sewer.
There are some great cameos from Susan Sarandon and particularly Timothy Spall as the guilt-racked servant of the Prince secretly working for his beloved queen to feed Giselle a poisoned apple.
"Sire, do you like yourself?" asks Nathaniel, as the two of them discover the miracle of television.
"What's not to like?" smiles Edward charmingly.
It's the interplay between the real-world cynicism of divorce lawyer Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and Giselle that really carries the day; the story is adult enough to amuse grown-ups but has enough silliness and fun to entertain older children.
I found it great fun, and have watched it more than once!
Roll on Enchanted 2. Let's hope it's as great fun as the original.