Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Susan Sarandon
Directed by Kevin Lima
Music by Alan Menken
Studio: Walt Disney
Release date: November 21, 2007
Comedy/ Musical/ part animation/ family
Disney has always known for the fairy tale world that it brought into our homes. That was until the CG took over. But until then, it was good ol' animation that provided us the Disney share of magic. So it seems that Disney finally came to terms that if the other studios are minting money at Disney's expense, why not they too benefit from the very same thing.
So kudos to Disney for finding that bone of humour which enabled them to give life to this creative concept that successfully has been executed into a feel good animation/live action hybrid experience.
The films opens in animation giving us the essential fairytale characters. A true Disney maiden Giselle, the charming prince Edward, the wicked step mother Queen Narissa and a whole lot of animal support, most notably the chipmunk .
Thanks to the evil step mother, Giselle is denied her chance of getting married to her prince, as the Queen throws her down a well which takes her directly to a portal that spits her out into the real world - New York city.
Giselle is surprised at a world different from her and how she does not fit into this setting. But that does not bog her down and instead she spreads her infections chirpiness all around her. Even it begins to affect the divorce lawyer who believes he made a mistake by being the good samaritan and letting this stranger under his roof, though it was on the insistence of his daughter who takes a fancy for fairy.
Meanwhile her Prince charming too lands up in search of the princess while the evil forces do everything in their power to keep them lovers from uniting!
Amy Adams did not impress me instantly as she turns from her animated version into a modern day princess. But as the movie progresses, Amy Adams exudes enough charm of the syrupy kind that eventually make us root for her. James Marsden on the other hand looks every bit of the goofy prince charming and was a delight throughout. Susan Sarandon impresses as the animated Queen Narissa but is about average once she comes to the real world. However Patrick Dempsey is forced to keep a straight face while everyone around him is having their share of fun.
All the fun I had was rather ruined thanks to a climax that was just a bit too much but might be probably enjoyed by the younger lot. However the plus factor is the songs that does bring a lot of magic back on screen. The park song and dance routine have been well executed and a nice throwback to the musicals.
This is one of those few really good 'fun for all' family kind of flicks out there in recent times. And just when we thought that Disney has lost that magic touch that they used to possess in making such family classics, they reassure that they still have some enchanting tricks up their sleeve. The Mouse and his wizardy shall live on!
MoviemagiK gives it a 3.5 outta 5
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