This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 148! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE. Hey everyone!
Hey everyone,
Anyone else ever get those nights where your brain feels like mush and anything remotely serious sounds, well, like homework? Yeah, that was me last night. Scrolling through Netflix, desperately searching for something that wouldn’t require an IQ test to enjoy.
Then I saw it: “Enchanted.” Hadn’t heard of it, but the poster with the cartoon princess in a sparkly dress amidst a chaotic New York City just tickled me. Hit play, grabbed some popcorn, and settled in for what I thought would be a cheesy, forgettable flick. Boy, was I wrong!
This movie is pure delight! We open in a candy-colored, singing-animal-filled land straight out of a classic Disney cartoon. Meet Giselle, our wide-eyed princess with a heart of gold and a voice like spun sugar. She’s engaged to a charming prince, everything seems perfect…until the evil stepmother pushes Giselle through a magical portal and lands her smack dab in the middle of Manhattan. Yup, you got that right. The plot throws Giselle, our quintessential animated Disney princess, straight into the gritty, not-so-magical streets of New York City, and the contrast is just… delightfully zany.
This fish-out-of-water story is where the fun really begins. Giselle, bless her heart, thinks everything in New York is magical. A taxi honks? Must be a friendly beast! A hot dog vendor’s cart? A shimmering castle kitchen, obviously! Enter Robert, a cynical divorce lawyer who stumbles upon Giselle and, let’s just say, their initial meeting is about as awkward as stepping in gum.
What follows is a hilarious clash of fairy tale tropes and harsh reality. Giselle tries to clean Robert’s apartment with singing chipmunks (spoiler alert: it doesn’t work) and attempts to win him over with a romantic serenade in Times Square (let’s just say New Yorkers are a tough crowd). But amidst the chaos, a genuine connection starts to form. Giselle, with her unwavering optimism, starts to chip away at Robert’s cynicism, and he, in turn, helps her navigate the complexities of the real world.
That transition from traditional animation to live-action is seamless and serves up a hefty dose of that warm, fuzzy nostalgia. It’s like being a kid again, but with the added bonus of catching all the adult humor and references sprinkled throughout.
And Giselle, played by Amy Adams in a role that’s just so perfectly her, is funny, charming, and just the right amount of saccharine. She brings this innocence and wonder to the real world that’s both refreshing and ridiculously entertaining.
But let’s be real, the movie is a fun, silly romp through fairy tale clichés and real-world cynicism, blending the two in a way that’s surprisingly smooth. James Marsden as the dashing yet dim Prince Edward is just… I mean, his commitment to the bit is something else. And then there’s Patrick Dempsey playing the skeptical, real-world love interest who’s all logic and no whimsy – until, well, you know.
There’s something about seeing these fairy tale characters navigate the chaos of New York City, with all its grime and grit, that just tickles me. It’s like watching a puppy discover snow for the first time – utterly bewildering, but totally enchanting.
Now, the movie isn’t afraid to poke fun at itself. There are plenty of winks and nods to classic Disney films, and the animation shift from the cartoon kingdom to live-action New York is seamless. Plus, the soundtrack is full of catchy tunes that’ll have you humming along long after the credits roll. (Side note: did you know that Alan Menken, the legendary composer behind classics like Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, wrote the music for this film too? No wonder the songs are so good!)
Sure, the plot might be a little predictable, and the ending is about as sugary sweet as candy floss. It’s got its moments of eye-roll-worthy cheese, but in the end, it’s just so darn enjoyable. And honestly, who doesn’t love a good happily ever after sometimes? “Enchanted” is the perfect movie to snuggle up with on a rainy day or when you just need a good laugh. It’s a delightful reminder that even in the midst of cynicism, a little bit of magic can go a long way.
Catch you on the flip side 👋
Roger