The Possibility of Happily Ever After

Rating: 10/10 (3 December 2007)

While scarfing down some mushroom chicken and having a conversation with 3 and half year-old Jack and his dad Vince before seeing Disney's "Enchanted", excited Jack told me that "Enchanted" has a princess, a prince, and an evil stepmother that transforms into a dragon. Well, before finishing lunch I was thoroughly enrolled in "Enchanted". "Enchanted" is all about the possibility of happily ever after. Director Kevin Lima and Writer Bill Kelly tell an enchanting fairy tale that still resonates in this often time cynical world. Why not the possibility of happily ever after? Amy Adams emerges as a bright star in the role of Giselle, the fairy tale princess trapped in the real world of Manhattan, New York. Lima and Kelly seamlessly transition from the animated fairy tale world to New York City with measured disbelief. But then again, we kind of know what we are getting into when seeing this movie. "Enchanted" is a musical albeit tongue-in-cheek at times. The songs and music by Alan Menkin ("Beauty and the Beast") and Stephen Schwartz ("Wicked") are exquisite and classic homage to Disney films past. There is the spectacular musical number in Central Park with Adams singing as Giselle. She asks divorce attorney Robert (Patrick Dempsey), how does he know that he loves his fiancée Nancy (Idina Menzel), then bursts out into song.
What really entranced me was the simple story. When Giselle asks Robert about true love, he argues, "It's complicated" There is a surprisingly touching scene in the park when Giselle tells Robert, "I wish you find every happiness in the world." Amy Adams is wonderfully earnest and genuine as Giselle. "Enchanted" is both a hysterical twist and homage to the fairy tale. Although at times blatantly cheesy, "Enchanted" is all about wonder and heart. Patrick Dempsey is great. He brilliantly plays the straight man in this collapsing of real and fairy tale worlds. He and Adams have amazing chemistry which is the foundation of "Enchanted".
"Enchanted" begins in the fairy tale world of Andalasia where Giselle awaits her true love. Until then she spends most of her days singing with the animals of the forest. Her true love would be Prince Edward (hysterically pompous James Marsden), who spends most of his days conquering the ogres of the land. This is the diabolically constructed strategy of Edward's wicked stepmother Queen Narissa (evilly camp Susan Sarandon) to keep him from marrying Giselle; thus, replacing herself from the royal throne. However, Giselle and Edward are fated to marry. On their wedding day Narissa, disguised as an old woman, banishes Giselle to the world of "no happily ever after"New York City. Fortunately Edward's loyal chipmunk Pip clues in the Prince of this conspiracy. Edward then follows his beloved Giselle.
Patrick Dempsey plays Robert, a single father and divorce attorney. Robert is at somewhat of a cross roads in his life. Though apparently good at what he does, he is unfulfilled. He is raising his daughter Morgan (cute Rachel Covey) by himself, and about to marry his fiancée Nancy (hilariously uptight Idina Menzel). And we all know that she is not the one. As fate would have it Robert and Morgan take in Giselle, who occurs as total nut job. Being more perceptive of these sort of things Morgan tells her Dad, "I think she is a real princess." Robert soon wonders whether he is going insane or that Giselle is really who she says. All the while, Robert wonders if he has found his true love in Giselle. Meanwhile, Queen Narissa journeys to New York with a poison apple for Giselle.
It's good versus evil with a surprising heroic twist. The other surprise in "Enchanted" is the innate good in its characters. Well, except for Sarandon's Queen. However, Sarandon brilliantly balances the menace and camp for hysterical effect. James Marsden infuses a playful compassion in Edward. Patrick Dempsey embodies Robert's nobility. Amy Adams's bright spirit also radiates courage and character as Giselle. "Enchanted" celebrates the possibility of happily ever after in a very entertaining and special movie.