Enchanted (PG)

Apr 4 2008 by Karen Price, Western Mail

Enchanted (PG), 103 mins

****

Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Rachel Covey, Timothy Spall, Susan Sarandon, Idina Menzel.

Basic plot: In the colourful, animated kingdom she calls home, Giselle (voiced by Adams) is poised to marry dashing Prince Edward (Marsden), only for his vindictive mother, Queen Nerissa (Sarandon), to push the bride-to-be down a well. Giselle emerges from a manhole into the hustle and bustle of New York City, where she meets divorce lawyer Robert (Dempsey) and his daughter Morgan (Covey). They invite stricken Giselle into their home, to the chagrin of Robert’s long-term girlfriend Nancy (Menzel), who is waiting patiently for him to propose. Meanwhile, Prince Edward follows Giselle into the real world, unaware that the Queen’s nefarious henchman Nathaniel (Spall) is also at large in the city, armed with a supply of poisoned apples.

Verdict: Enchanted cleverly upholds fairy tale conventions to glorious and hysterical effect, boasting great performances, comic set pieces, a sprinkling of romance and just enough heartfelt sentiment to draw a contented grin. Kevin Lima’s smart and sassy tale is a delight, with laughs and tears aplenty for audiences of all ages, and a couple of overblown musical numbers, including a sing-song through leafy Central Park. Adams plays her role with boundless charm and childish innocence while a chipmunk called Pip steals the show for younger viewers. Enchanting.