Enchanted is every young woman’s dream come true. I’m talking about the young women who, as young girls, watched Disney cartoons until the VHS tapes came off the spools. And let’s face it, even women who didn’t enjoy Disney as young girls fall for this film. My mom, one of the few people with an immunity to animated features, loved this movie. So skeptics beware; you’re bound to fall for Enchanted too.
The movie combines animated characters, songs, New York City, James Marsden and Patrick Dempsey. Disney takes 2 hours to mock its own classic films. It’s good to see some self-deprecation from Michael Eisner’s alma mater, so to speak. Oh, and did I mention the film features Patrick Dempsey? I’ll get back to him in a bit.
Just when you think you’re going to have a seizure from the bubble-gum beginning of Enchanted, when it’s still set in Andalasia, Giselle is thrown right into the brutal real world of Times Square. I was impressed that Amy Adams was able to portray the FLAWLESS cartoon rendition of Giselle with her real flesh. I had forgotten how all cartoon Disney heroines not only have perfect singing voices, but also flaunt impeccable hourglass silhouettes to their viewers. I won’t even get started on Disney hair. It’s enough to set a young woman’s insecurity back to freshman year of high school. These are just their physical attributes too; I can’t really focus on how they always get the guy. At this point in my life, desiring that kind of Disney ending just gives a girl crow’s feet, or am I just too pessimistic?
Giselle’s absurdity immediately charms us, and conveniently charms Robert (or should I say, McRobert?). I will say that Giselle’s character is essentially a female version of Will Ferrell’s Buddy the Elf. With their endearingly blind innocence, it’s hard not to completely love the two characters. Cynical characters (and viewers) may admit initial dislike, but Giselle and Buddy melt away even the most frigid of people—which is where characters like Robert and Buddy the Elf’s Dad come in handy. Simultaneously, these skeptical characters and viewers are slowly enchanted (ah yes! What a clever title, huh?) by the joyous optimism of Giselle and Buddy. That kind of personality isn’t even rare in the real world; it actually doesn’t exist. Thus, these movies call upon make-believe optimistic people from Andalasia and the North Pole.
As a New Yorker, the setting of the film was perfect. Skeptics and cynics alike, even cockroaches, are challenged to dislike or dissuade Giselle from her tunnel vision for true love’s kiss. Even if she was a bit off on which Prince Charming would eventually grant her that wish, she had her eyes on the prize and earned it.
Which brings me to Patrick Dempsey. Although I’m biased—why yes, now that you ask, I’m completely in love with him and my life’s biggest disappointment will be the fact that I will never marry him—I have to hand to Dempsey AND Disney for casting him. Brad Pitt would be just TOO pretty. George Clooney would be too sleazy. Matt Damon is too badass (Jason Bourne would have killed the queen too quickly). But Patrick Dempsey, while we’re discussing fairy tales, is like the last bowl of porridge—he’s just right. His asymmetrical features make him handsome, but not absolutely perfect. My one criticism is that he really didn’t change characters from McDreamy, but I’m really not complaining. He had me way before hello.
Susan Sarandon disappointed me. I think it was her drag queen costume that really ruined it. Perhaps if I hadn’t read the Times review with that commentary I may not have been so quick to come to that description, but it’s dead on accurate. Can we talk about her transvestite shoes? Please Disney, I know it’s Times Square but times have changed! I have to say the best performance—besides that of be-still-my-heart-McDreamy--was James Marsden as Prince Edward. The ease with which he played the character was apparent. Morgan (Robert’s daughter) was also adorable, but a mere footnote to other characters.
All in all, Enchanted left me enchanted (duh) but also a bit euphoric. Perhaps no real woman can live with the exhausting upbeat personality of Giselle, but, if anything, this movie gives you the SLIGHT hope that fairy tales can come true—even in New York. It quietly encourages girls not to settle for a Prince Edward—the obvious and easy choice—and hold out for your Dempsey. The main point, however, is that even if absurd optimism is a stretch, perhaps some—if not pessimism in moderation—will get you what you want.
