Disney on Disney

Rating: 7/10 (15 April 2008)

I think that after watching Julie Taymor's "Across the Universe" you start living with the idea that you may not find music, dancing and acting so perfectly combined in a film these days. But if you haven't watched it, you will have plenty of things to find in "Enchanted", the real life fable of all the Snowhites, Sleeping Beauties, Ariels, Cinderellas but not Anastacias.
Here the magical world of Walt Disney brings a film that brings everything back to life again. I like it because it's such an uncompromising film; so simple and predictable, and it knows it. However, it also knows that it's a film that had to be done and had a reason for existing (in case anyone had thought differently): making the viewer remember. Whether you are 10 years old, 25 or 50 or more, you'll get something of this movie that will stay with you forever.
The 10-year-olds will be astonished by the musical sequences in the best "Mary Poppins" style, the songs (they may not have shined at the Oscars, but Alan Menken's melodies are as sharp as ever and you can't help to smile while watching people in the middle of the street singing "That's how you know"; look for the video if you don't believe me), the animals and the always winning tale of the princess looking for his true love.
The 25-year-olds will recognize every moment taken from another animated classic (this is Disney on Disney people) and the parallels established with the film's characters and some of the most beloved Disney villains and heroes of all time; while the 50-year-olds will just experience a short ride in a time machine, which I'm guessing it's no so bad.
"Enchanted" is short, direct and targeted like no other Disney film this decade. The young girls will get it to see Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden (the latter one truly delivers and proves to have a natural singing talent); the whole family will get it because it's Disney, movie lovers will want to see Susan Sarandon doing a villain and, believe it or not, the boys will eventually watch it because everyone will be talking good things about it; and about Amy Adams.
And why wouldn't they? She's lovable and manages to control her performance so that it never becomes annoying, something that could have easily happened. The movie rests on her natural gift, her singing and on her smile and on the commitment of director Kevin Lima, who once directed the animated classic "A Goofy Movie"; a film that everyone should watch once more.
Oh, and just in case: "Bridge to Terabithia" this is not.