Fun Friday Enchanted

 

Enchanted

This film came out in 2007 and is a Snow White type adaptation. We see in animation set in Adalasia the evil queen (Susan Sarandon) trying to stop Prince Edward (James Marsden) finding a wife. This is a good solid start to the film as it sets up the rest of the story.

The Prince, however meets Giselle and as in a usual Fairy Tale, they fall in what they deem to be love and plan to marry the next day. The Evil Queen, however has other ideas, and this is where the film changes pace to your usual Fairy Tale.

Giselle is sent to the real world, New York, where she meets cynical lawyer, Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey), his daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey) and Robert’s girlfriend, Nancy (Idina Menzel) who he has been dating for 5 years. I think this a good place, as it is recognisable and like throwing someone in at the deep end, if like Giselle you come from a completely different dimension. It also has certain elements to the city so Giselle seems to feel, not so out of her depths, especially in Central park, where there is a big song and dance number. In some aspects of the film Giselle seems a little naïve, but then she quickly learns what being in the real world in New York is like, that it is not always a Fairy Tale, as she meets a couple on the verge of a divorce. Although there is a part back in the animation, where the animals help with the cleaning, Giselle, now in New York we see her call out and animals come to help and then we see real animals helping. I think this unnecessary and far-fetched, and should show her cleaning up properly to follow the real world aspect of the film. However, Giselle without seeming to have a care in the world, tries to make her own existence in New York and the ones around her have a better life.

When Prince Edward finds out where Giselle has gone he goes to look for her. When he finds her she is still with Robert and Morgan. Giselle thinking it is her destiny lets Edward whisk her off. We then see Giselle has learnt about dating and not rushing into marriage, getting to know who you are going to marry before committing to it.

This film is clever in sometimes blurring the line between Fairy Tale and the real world when Giselle sees a Ball advertised and, on Robert’s behalf send an invite to it, to Nancy, who we find out actually loves all the spontaneous romance stuff. Giselle, who also wants to go to the Ball so asks Edward to take her, before they go back to Adalasia, he agrees. Another good blur is when Giselle is not sure what to wear for the Ball, Morgan dressed as a Fairy Godmother and armed with a wand and finding her father’s credit card, they spend the day together getting ready for the Ball that evening. This is a lovely part of the film, as a bond grows between them.

At the Ball, Nancy is impressed by Prince Edward says, carrying on the theme of her liking, spontaneous romance, and Robert dances with Giselle, carrying on the theme of dating and getting to know one another. This is very clever how the film does this, a swap has happened and we didn’t see it coming. We now see a change of pace as the Evil Queen, having kept an eye on everything, throughout the film, turns up at the Ball and finds Giselle and realises that, Giselle has actually fallen in love with Robert, but he is with Nancy. On the pretence that she can make all the hurt go away, the Evil Queen gives Giselle an apple lased with something that makes Giselle collapse. Spotting this unfold, Robert tells Nancy to call 911. I think this is good and slightly amusing, as when have we ever read in a Fairy Tale of 911 being called, but New York is the real world and when I heard this I thought ‘oh yeah you would call 911, if you see someone collapsed’. However, it wasn’t 911 that saved her it was a true loves kiss. Edward thinking it is him tries but Nancy realising what has happened, the only voice of reason it seems, tells Robert it is him, which it is. We have seen him go from a cynical lawyer to a warm-hearted romantic, as Giselle has bought out the best in him.

Another part of a Fairy Tale that they made fit into the real world, by people at the Ball, thinking it was part of the show, which is good, as when there seems to no other explanation that you can see, people jump to what seems the most obvious conclusion. This is when the Evil Queen changes into a dragon, she is angry her plan to do away with Giselle didn’t work. The Evil Queen/dragon is then defeated.

The ending is a little surprising as we see Edward and Nancy marry in Adalasia the next day in animation, although that is how a Fairy Tale works. However, I don’t know which cell phone company she used but apparently it has good coverage. It actually worked in Adalasia, well until she threw it away and her phone is laying in pieces on the floor.

Robert, Giselle and Morgan are living in New York, and embracing what it has to offer, working in a children’s clothing company.

This film shows us romance is not dead, it is just what you would want to get out of it. If you want to get to know someone before you commit you can or do you want to be swept off your feet you can be. Romance comes in many different forms depending on the type that appeals to the individual.

May romance, always live on in whatever form we choose.

Thank you for reading

Sandra