When You Wish Upon a Skyscraper
Most fantasies don't have the stamina to withstand the demands of the real world, but Disney's new film "Enchanted" defies expectations by creating a sweet fairy tale for the modern era.
Starting in the realm where Disney has had the most success — the cartoon world — and segueing to a live-action adventure, "Enchanted" paints a sweet, tongue-in-cheek portrait of a young forest-dwelling maiden named Giselle (Amy Adams) who has just met the man of her dreams, Prince Edward (James Marsden). But her plans to marry him the next day are interrupted by his evil stepmother, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), who must relinquish her throne when Edward marries. Narissa throws Giselle down an enchanted well, sending her to the death of all things good — Times Square.
Remixing plot elements and character biographies from various Disney fairy tales, "Enchanted" is not the most inventive of fantasy films, but its fidelity to the heart of Disney narration, paired with well-written songs and strong performances, should earn it a place in the Disney oeuvre of classic fairy tales.
Unlike a lot of modern animated films, the "Shrek" franchise for instance, which seemed intent to use its adorable settings to break down the trappings of fantasy, "Enchanted" acknowledges the walls of its created world without cutting them down. "Enchanted" has its fair share of poop jokes and modern misanthropes, but it keeps its faithful Disney spirit alive with songs and characters that are changed just enough to retain the audience's interest. Most important, "Enchanted" has compiled a cast capable of bringing Disney whimsy to life. Though the film's stars are recognizable, "Enchanted" never sacrifices voice or character to billboard appeal.
Disney appears to be waiting to see how the film performs before granting Giselle full princess status among the likes of Jasmine ("Aladdin"), Ariel ("The Little Mermaid"), and Belle ("Beauty and the Beast"), but Ms. Adams's skills should guarantee that little girls everywhere take to her with equal fanaticism. As she has proved in roles ranging from "Catch Me If You Can" to her Oscar-nominated performance in 2005's "Junebug," Ms. Adams has enough control to bring naïve and sweet characters to life without succumbing to saccharine overkill. Ms. Adams manipulates her voice into the Disney register, and her sweet looks bring a fleeting figment to life. Blending the cartoon and physical world can often lead to embarrassing antics, but the actress manages to smooth over some of the difficulties with her commitment to her character. Giselle's Prince Charming is even more out of place in the real world, but Mr. Marsden handles the role of primping debutant with endearing finesse. His misconstrued rescue attempts and his friendly derision of New York City inhabitants, whom he assumes to be his subjects, are often terrific. When he arrives in the city, he stabs a bus and proclaims to the confused commuters: "The steel beast is dead, peasants! I have set you free!" Bungling his attempts to save his fair maiden, he is accompanied by a wily chipmunk that is amusingly reduced to charades in this world.
As the evil woman controlling these strange events, Ms. Sarandon grasps tight control of the film. Her deliciously evil baritone runs rampant over the innocents in her path, and though her platform boots might be a bit goth for Midtown, it's hard to quibble with a woman with a penchant for transforming into a fire-breathing dragon when pressed.
Patrick Dempsey, recently resuscitated as Dr. McDreamy on "Grey's Anatomy," capably manages his staid dream-man role, and Broadway's Idina Menzel seems happily resigned to the cameo that "Wicked" has won her, even if her theme song was left out of the final cut.
It's always interesting to see which parts of New York films find to be quintessential for capturing the city. "Enchanted" flies between Times Square, Central Park, the Time Warner Center, the Bowery, and Morningside Heights. It may not be the most nuanced portrait of the city, but director Kevin Lima certainly makes good use of our sweeping skylines and urban decrepitude. Seeing cartoons brought to life is often a letdown, and despite its potential to cloy with irritating condescension, "Enchanted" manages to keep the story alive in awkward settings. The fidelity that well-trained actors bring to this lighthearted farce bypasses some of the shaky moments inevitably conjured in the clash between dream and real worlds.
The Walt Disney Co. has been hard at work resuscitating its brand for new generations, and "Enchanted" is on point, aiming to spread the dominance of Disney by capturing the young audience in the grip of its flights of fancy. The company's strict message comes across: Get thee to a theater, peasants!
mkeane@nysun.com
