There are many things that are magical about "Enchanted," not the least of which is that it holds your attention from beginning to end.
The story begins with Giselle, the fair maiden of the enchanted — and animated — land of Andalasia, who falls in love with the handsome Prince Edward. But when the two are to wed, the wicked Queen Narissa bans Giselle to a place where "happily ever after" doesn't exist: the bustling, harsh streets of New York City.
What ensues is an extremely comical combination of every animated Disney movie ever made. The wicked queen tries to poison Giselle with an apple, and Giselle enlists the help of the local animals (which in New York includes a variety of vermin) to clean an apartment.
As Giselle waits for her prince to come rescue her, she meets the very handsome (and very cynical) lawyer, Robert, and the fair maiden is forced to face the realities of love in the real world.
Sure, the plot sounds cheesy and very Disney-esque, but the film is consistently funny, so you hardly notice the fluff. Writer Bill Kelly and director Kevin Lima poke fun at every animated Disney film, but they do it with a class and charisma that will enchant even the most cynical adult.
One of the film's highlights (mostly for kids and those, like me, who are kids at heart) is the CGI chipmunk Pip, who accompanies Prince Edward on his mission to rescue Giselle from the real world. Pip is created so well that you never doubt for a second that he is real, and his character is one of the funniest in the film.
But the real star of the flick is Amy Adams ("Underdog," "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"), who plays Giselle with such wonder and innocence I wouldn't be surprised if she gets an Oscar nod for her role.
James Marsden ("X-Men," "Hairspray") is another big winner as the heroic (and slightly conceited) Prince Edward. There's such innocence in his eyes as he treks the streets of New York, battles the metallic beast (a city bus) and gets run down by a stampede of bicyclists, all in pursuit of his one true love. At times, it almost seems like he's still animated.
Other big names, like Patrick Dempsey (Dr. McDreamy from "Grey's Anatomy"), Susan Sarandon ("Stepmom") and Timothy Spall ("Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"), top off the cast, all with exceptional performances.
While the movie isn't all good — the end gets a little CGI heavy — its charm, heart and humor are enough to enchant anyone.
Reach the reporter at tara.brite@asu.edu.
