It’s been a long time since we last saw a movie blending the world of animation and real life action together. To my knowledge, Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) was the last movie to do so. I was extremely psyched when I first heard about the Enchanted project back in 2001. Although I didn’t catch the theatrical release, I finally got to see it when Enchanted became available on iTunes rental service. Enchanted is as enchanting as I imagined it to be (poor pun, I apologize). Being a once-hardcore Disney fan, I enjoyed the movie on several different levels.
The movie started off with a fairy tale ending of typical Disney animated classics - the princess and the prince, despite evil queen’s attempt to prevent it at all cost, fell in love on the first sight, conveying their love through a beautiful duet while heading into the sunset, and living happily ever after. In the first 15 minutes of the film, there already are loads of references to older Disney classics - the evil step-mom and queen wanna-be; the princess enlisting helps from woodlin’ creatures; the prince saving the princess from a monstrous creature; the little blue birds… etc. Even when the story shifts to the real world setting, it still doesn’t forget to parody those classic “Disney moments” (where woodlin’ creatures become city rodents… ewww).
The music also takes cues from many classic Disney movies. The opening duet is clearly an ode to Snow White’s “I’m Wishing” and in “Nathaniel and Pip,” there are clear cues lifted directly from Beauty and the Beast and a few other songs Alan Menken composed previously. Some of the background music also corresponds with on-screen cameos. For instance, the scene where Giselle visited Robert’s office, the receptionist, Sam, is played by Jodi Benson, who also is the voice talent of Ariel from The Little Mermaid. The “elevator music” played in the background is none other than “Part of Your World” - the iconic song sung by Ariel from The Little Mermaid, which also happens to be the first Disney movie Alan Menken composed music for.
So yes, the story is very light hearted and whimsical like the Shrek series. Similar to Shrek, Enchanted doesn’t take itself too seriously, and is not afraid of turning the fairy tale worlds up side down. Unlike the Shrek, however, the plot of Enchanted adapts a more realistic and mature tone as it progresses, before obligatorily returning to its fairy tale ending during the grand finale. It is this transition and progression that really drew my interest and attention. It is fascinating find these hidden “transitions” and “references” throughout the film.
Two “transitions” I loved the most are the “costume transition” and “song transition.” Crossing the border from an animated world to a real world, Giselle’s dresses slowly lose their “fantasy” elements as time goes on and take on a more “modern finesse”. The most apparent contrast is in a ballroom scene towards the end, where Prince Edward and Giselle stand side-by-side as they descend from the staircase. “Song transition” took a similar approach. Both the melody and lyrics slowly loses their “Disney flare” as they progress, and takes on a more “pop rock” style. Personally I think the whole Ballroom dancing scene is ingenious. It takes care of the “singing transition,” “costume transition,” and character development all in one shot. It was a brilliant set up.
Albeit minor, the movie isn’t without its flaws. I felt the CGI towards the end could use some additional work. The color, model, and movement looked unnatural, and Susan Sarandon’s voice over during her “final form” was simply unfitting. The pace also felt a little off, lacking the dire urgency it should have presented, making that last “action sequence” felt a little anti-climatic. I also felt it’s a pity to not see more on-screen time with Susan Sarandon and not having at least one song performed by Idina Menzel (starred in OBC of musicals Rent and Wicked). But in the end, Enchanted has offered enough entertainment values for me to overlook these minor imperfections.
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