A hair-raising adventure!

Rating: 10/10 (17 October 2017)

Watching Tangled is like experiencing magic, romance, and all the qualities of childhood wonder unfold with a stellar story line. It has the elements to qualify it as a classic Disney film, such as vibrant, singing characters, intelligent animal sidekicks, and a sweet, naive princess who is swept away from her troubles by a dashingly handsome prince. However, the plot is also heavily modernized, and the characters are much more complex than those of past Disney films. The prince, also known as Flynn Rider, is actually no more than a common thief, whose morals may seem a bit skewed, but deep down has a noble heart. He is also filled with sarcastic one-liners, an apathetic attitude, and enough charm to make a theater full of women swoon. Rapunzel, on the other hand, is not the average damsel-in-distress. She may need Flynn's help navigating her way through the outside world, but it is clear from the moment she struck him on the head with a frying pan that she can easily stand on her own. She has a bright mind and a whole lot of hair on her side, and in many instances, she is actually the one saving Flynn. Tangled is a film worthy of withstanding the test of time because it combines touches of classic and modern magic that are enough to please all audiences.
There is a set formula, tried and true, for a Disney classic. It must have singing. It must have romance. And no matter what, it absolutely must end with "and they all lived happily ever after." The soundtrack of this film is a work of art. Songs such as "When Will My Life Begin" and "I've Got a Dream" are buoyantly upbeat, and the lyrics apply perfectly to the story and the mood. Then there is "Mother Knows Best," sung by the talented Donna Murphy. Her rich voice perfectly matches the condescending approach to Rapunzel's ignorance of the outside world. In addition, Disney's animators pay incredible attention to detail, and whenever Mother Gothel addresses Rapunzel endearingly, she always kisses her magical hair and calls her "my flower." On the other hand, Flynn always pushes Rapunzel's hair out her face so he can see her face better. These subtle gestures show that Flynn's love for Rapunzel is different true. Of course, the most beautiful song in this movie is "I See the Light," where Rapunzel and Flynn unofficially devote their new dreams to each other. It encapsulates their emotions and shows how much they have both grown from this magical adventure.
Tangled also has one of the greatest love stories of all time. It begins when the two characters meet. Rapunzel steps into the light, looking all strong and confident, and it is visible in Flynn Rider's expression that he is absolutely taken away by her beauty. This does not mean that their relationship can be described as love at first sight. In fact, Flynn even says, 'the only thing I want with your hair, is to get out of it." Even after he is unwillingly locked into this promise to take Rapunzel to see the floating lanterns, he tries multiple times to convince her to go back to her tower, allowing him to snake out of their deal. A major turning point is when Rapunzel stops the Vikings from turning in Flynn, and he gets a glimpse at her kind, optimistic heart. This is when he begins to look out for her because he cares. He reveals his deepest secrets to her and she does the same. This unlikely friendship blossoms as they adventure through town together, and the love in Flynn's eyes is clear when Rapunzel turns around with flowers braided into her hair. When they sing "I See the Light" together in the picturesque scene, surrounded by hundreds of lights, they finally express their love for one another for the first time. This love is much stronger than that of a princess who meets her prince once, declares it to be love, and instantly marries him. This power couple has been through a lot together; they have seen the worst and the best of each other, and they still love each other, flaws and all. In the end, Rapunzel nobly sacrifices her freedom to save Flynn's life, and Flynn immediately sacrifices his life to grant Rapunzel freedom from the evil Mother Gothel. In the end, of course, they do live happily ever after. The villain is defeated, Rapunzel is reunited with her loving family, and her and Flynn eventually get married.
The most important factor that makes Tangled a wonderful movie is that it sends a positive message to its audience, which mainly consists of children who rely on these films to guide the type of person they'll grow up to be. It teaches them to pursue their dreams passionately. It shows a powerful role model who fights ferociously for what she believes in but still continues to see good in everyone. It proves that true love is about being willing to make sacrifices for one another. For these reasons, Tangled should forever be revered as one of the classics.