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Enchanted (2007)
Director: Kevin Lima
Movie review
From Time Out London
Disney has pulled off a bit of a doozy with this amusing parody of its own oeuvre. Ostensibly a freewheeling blend of the ‘Snow White’, ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Sleeping Beauty’ fairytales, ‘Enchanted’ begins in conventional, animated Disney territory where pretty Giselle is being courted by Edward, her Prince Charming. His witchy mother, however, has an evil scheme on the boil and banishes Giselle to twenty-first century New York City.
At this juncture, the film flits from animation to live action just as Giselle (now Amy Adams), dressed to the nines in a flowing ball gown, emerges from a manhole into a world of bustling humanity. Her first real-world encounter is with divorce lawyer Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey), who, despite sensing correctly that she’s well away with the fairies, eventually relents to her request for shelter and – lo and behold! – begins
to fall for the scatty lass. When Edward eventually appears (in the guise of James Marsden), Giselle is left facing a typically predictable rom-com dilemma.
At first glance, Kevin Lima’s contemporary urban fantasy looks hideously twee. It’s only when the story hits the streets of NYC and Adams starts hamming it up (much like Julie Hagerty did in ‘Airplane’) that we start seeing the fruits of a grand Mickey-take. Giselle is clearly on another planet; she swans around singing inane songs and delivering amusingly mundane fantasy lingo in a shrill voice. Had Adams (no relation) not hammed-up her performance to such a degree and, more pertinently, had the film taken itself seriously, one might otherwise have felt compelled to torch the screen. Instead, ‘Enchanted’ is one of the better family films of this year.
Author: Derek Adams
Time Out London Issue 1947: December 12-18 2007
User reviews of this film
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- megz xgx said...
- Posted on Jan 02 2008 11:39 iv nt saw it yet but i am 2day it sounds bosh ill tell u to morra wot it is really lyk
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- Me said...
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Posted on Jan 02 2008 04:17
Hey
This Film Looks Good
Gna Check It Out Tomorrow - Report as inappropriate
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- irka said...
- Posted on Jan 01 2008 15:07 Absolutely fantastic! An old fashioned fairy story made into a modern version, with all the morals and it`s really funny. I loved it , the kids loved it even my unenotional hubby saied it was ok. I will watch it again. At last some good stuff is comming for our children. I don`t like the fighty and nasty films, so keep them comming, please!!!
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- sophie said...
- Posted on Jan 01 2008 13:17 i have not seen it yet but tomoz i am
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- matt said...
- Posted on Jan 01 2008 12:25 i think this film sound very funny and i cant wait to see it. there just one thing im not sure about NOTHING!!!!
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- ..x..sophii..x.. said...
- Posted on Dec 31 2007 10:35 good/exerlant
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- Red said...
- Posted on Dec 31 2007 07:53 Brilliant! I saw it it twice! I would recommend it any one. I went with my Mum and Dad and they both loved it!
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- [[.x.Sophie....*& said...
- Posted on Dec 30 2007 18:58 W*O*O*H wnt tuhh see dis fabby film tudaiiyy wiff mah familee n wee all totallyy enjoyed. Wud deffo recomment this film tuhh all princess,comedy & love LOVERS lol. Could watch this film ova n ova agen x it completly rocks & have only jush bin tuhh see it nw haha x ope theyre will be ah numbah2 buhh dnt fink theyre will lol x anyway fablush film x n bye x
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- nicole said...
- Posted on Dec 30 2007 18:17 thevry 1 says the film is wkd im 17 and work in a riding school near linton im be going to see it soon bye bye chicks xxxxxxxxxx
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- rachel said...
- Posted on Dec 30 2007 18:12 this film waz wkd best ive ever saw it seems that evry 1 that whent to see it loved it im so glad that is was not oln ymint but it was my anuty playing the girls shes a mint anuty luv yoo xxxxx
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- Sam said...
- Posted on Dec 30 2007 17:19 I loved the film but the rest of the family didn't.
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- bruva said...
- Posted on Dec 30 2007 15:37 safe! dis film roks!!!! Waz skeptic coz its a cartoon, but its BARE funny!!! the chick is buff, especially when she is a cartoon! U must see it!
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- Jacey said...
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Posted on Dec 29 2007 14:00
Oh me gud god it ded funny u should see it it 4 all ages and you cant even sit there without laughing onstley.
And its even funner wen she cuts out her dress from the curtains
I tell you wotch it x - Report as inappropriate
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- rajesh said...
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Posted on Dec 29 2007 13:59
GO watch it lads, take your grilfriends, wives, daughters, mistresses , whoever, it starts like a cartoon and you think oh whats this, but it soon gets you , its witty, romantic, funny relaxing and lots of fun fun fun
worth a watch - Report as inappropriate
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- louise said...
- Posted on Dec 28 2007 19:04 really funny film good for adults and chidren my 6 year old son enjoyed it so did his 32 yr old dad!!!
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Cast & crew
Director: Kevin Lima
Producer: Barry Josephson, Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Rachel Covey full cast
Genre(s): Action/Adventure, Children's, Comedy, Fantasy
Rated: PG
Duration: 107 mins
UK Release: Dec 14 2007
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