Cracking family entertainment.

Rating: 9/10 (29 March 2008)

Disney's Enchanted is a wonderful film: not only does it have a brilliantly simple, yet completely ingenious concept, that is packed full of great jokes, romance, adventure, and hugely enjoyable musical numbers, but it also makes a star of the beautiful and talented Amy Adams, who, if there is any justice in this world, will have a long and successful career ahead of her.
As Giselle, the fairytale princess-to-be who is sent to New York by the evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), Adams is absolutely perfect: heart-achingly attractive with an angel's voice. Who can really blame single father Robert Philip (played by Patrick Dempsey) for falling for her charms, even though he is about to propose to his long term girlfriend? Not I.
Robert, an attorney, meets Giselle as she wanders the streets of the 'Big Apple', struggling to cope with the harsh reality of the city. After taking the confused young woman back to his apartment (which he shares with his six-year-old daughter), his life becomes completely turned upside-down: his girlfriend leaves him (fair enoughÂ—she sees Giselle laying on top of him in nothing but a towel!), and his career looks decidedly shaky (once again, Giselle does not seem to help the situation).
Also throwing a spanner in the works are several others characters from the fairy tale realm, who have followed Giselle to New York: Prince Edward, who wishes to marry the pretty maiden, having spent a whole day in her company; Giselle's best friend Pip (who happens to be a chipmunk!); and the loathsome Nathaniel (Timothey Spall), Queen Narissa's right hand man, who is determined that Edward will not find his true love.
With Enchanted, director Kevin Lima proves himself to be a name to watch, providing his audience with brilliant wall-to-wall family fun, and delivering a couple of scenes that are instant Disney classics: Giselle summoning the vermin of New York to help her tidy Robert's apartment; and the song and dance routine in which everyone joins in, having obviously been affected by a little of Giselle's fairytale magic.
Of course, despite the villains' best attempts, everything ends happily ever after (as do all great fairy tales), but not before Giselle learns that falling in love means getting to know someone properly first, Robert learns to trust his feelings, Nathaniel realises the error of his ways, the nasty Narissa is defeated by a brave rodent, and Edward finds someone who is truly grateful to be whisked off their feet by a handsome prince.