Brookhaven Courier

Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: disney.go.com/disneypictures/enchanted/

"Enchanted," directed by Kevin Lima, a veteran Disney animator, is a movie about fantasy and true love beginning in the colorfulness and magic of the animated world and then delving into the chaos of real life.

The story begins when Giselle, a young princess-to-be in the animated land of Andalasia (voiced by Amy Adams) falls in love at first sight with Prince Edward (voiced by James Marsden) and are immediately scheduled to be married the next day.

The twist and trouble begins when Prince Edward's step-mother Queen Narissa, in fear of losing her throne, plays an evil trick on Giselle and sends her off into the real world before the love birds can even join in their eternal happily ever after.

Adams, who made her big-screen debut as Leslie Miller, one of the contestants in "Drop Dead Gorgeous" in 1999, does a marvelous job in portraying a lost and disheveled Giselle looking for a little hospitality in modern day New York city.

As the story progresses, Giselle meets Robert Philip, a down-to-earth divorce lawyer and single parent played by "Gray's Anatomy's" Dr. Derek Shepherd.

"Enchanted" is filled with hilarious moments and also pays homage to other Disney films.

One of the most humorous (as well as a little disturbing) moments is when real-life Giselle calls the city animals to come help her clean Philip's disorderly apartment. Back in Andalasia, her lovely voice attracted pigeons, cutesy little chipmunks and fluffy bunny rabbits. However, modern-day city animals consist of rodents such as rats and mice and even flying cockroaches. The little mice sure know how to scrub a toilet when accompanied by the perfect working song.

This film pays homage to past Disney films by including some of the classics such as a left-behind slipper, poison apple and even a monstrous dragon to complicate the plot of this modern fairy tale.

Throughout the movie, Giselle and Philip learn crucial lessons from each other about life and love.

After an amazing musical number at the park, Giselle teaches Philip that it is important to believe in the head-over-heels fairy tale love and about the importance of showing and not just telling your significant other how much you love him or her.

On the other hand, Giselle learns from the analytical lawyer that it is best to get to know someone and go on a lot of dates before taking the plunge.

"Enchanted" leaves the audience with the need to believe in "true love's kiss" and the lesson that not all fairy tales end with the couple riding off into the sunset.

5 stars

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