Release your inner Disney Princess!

Rating: 7/10 (25 November 2007)

Oh, golly, it's almost embarrassing how much I liked this movie. I remember being tempted to see the movie upon seeing early trailers and posters, but I also realized it would probably bomb. But hey, I was going to see it anyway. Clearly I never entirely grew up. It's classic Disney cotton candy fluff, I still can't figure out why anyone would be attracted to a cynical jerk, there were obnoxious talking animals... and I think I just answered my own question. Isn't this the stuff that makes Disney so abhorrently great? I've already seen it twice, and the second time around was just as delightfully scrumptious as the first. And why not? "Shrek" originally captured our hearts with contemporary cynicism in a fairy tale world--and look how that angle turned out in the end with that disastrous #3. Maybe society is ready for happiness and joy and joyness and little singing woodland creatures once more.
And boy, do we get it. In the happy-magical kingdom of Andalasia (which is most reminiscent of the worlds of fellow princesses Snow White and Sleeping Beauty) we have the fair forest maiden Giselle, an angelic creature with a heart of gold dreaming of the day when she would receive True Love's Kiss. Fortunately, convenient Disney Destiny thrusts her into the arms of the handsome and dashing Prince Edward... and the happy couple are engaged about ten seconds later. All seems well in Andalasia, until Giselle is thrust down a waterfall into a horrible, dark place where no one lives happily ever after. That's right. New York City.
However, Giselle, now reality-incarnated as the sparkling Amy Adams, is not about to let a bad situation get the best of her. She sings and dances out her views on the world via a less-than-subtle reminder that life would indeed be better as a musical. Throw in a simple-but-tried-and-true plot and some enchanting stereotypes of characters and she has a dazzling film of which any Disney Princess would be proud.
Frankly, a lot of the wonder has to do with the casting and characters. Amy Adams is to Giselle as Johnny Depp is to Captain Jack in absorbing a character. Timothy Spall does an excellent job as a bumbling lackey, and his character of Nathaniel really wormed his way into my heart. James Marsden happily becomes Prince Edward and has a blast playing a properly two-dimensional prince who, as you know, must survive on looks, bravery, and charm rather than brains--fortunately his heart is just as big as Giselle's. Even Idina Menzel makes the most of her character's lack of screen time. I felt Susan Serandon could have had a bit more fun with her evil queen role, but still, it's hard to completely ruin any evil queen role. Patrick Dempsey also kept his role as straight man a little too straight (I still can't figure out why the character of Robert was supposed to be so great) but it was still entertaining to see him trapped in a fairy tale freak show while his own daughter is happily joining the party.
This lovable cast leads us through a sprightly and sweet story that took a deeper look at the typical fairy tale ending--without getting mind-numblingly philosophical on this, because hey, it's Disney. I for one appreciated the idea that blissful unapologetic romance and thought-out personality/values matching are both necessary a relationship to really work.
The story was cute, fresh, and funny. I had fun counting the various Disney references (and I still think I missed some). I still laugh over the idea that the obligatory talking critter lost his power of speech upon coming to the real world and it was wonderful to see Jodi Benson as Robert's recetionist sassing around whilst score from "The Little Mermaid" played in the background.
The last act wasn't quite at part with the rest of the movie: the twist of the princess as the hero has actually become its own cliché and I think they could have come up with something a little more creative. I also still can't figure out why Patick Dempsey's character was all that wonderful, but Beauty and the Beast fell in love and I'm the one that would happily ridden off into the sunset Prince Edward. But all in all, it was indeed a very enchanting movie and I hope the Academy looks Amy Adam's way when it comes for nominations.
It's the best kind of fluffy goodness, complete with a romp of hilariously stereotypical characters and fairy tale clichés--all done right! I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that will condemn this movie for not embracing reality and pain, and I bet those are the type of people that don't let their kids read fairy tales.
The seven-year-old girl in me was extremely pleased.