Enchanted is a fairy tale that wants to be a comedy, a romance, and a tribute to Disney animation all at once. It mostly succeeds. The movie takes a princess named Giselle out of her cartoon kingdom and drops her into the middle of New York City, where she meets a cynical lawyer named Robert and tries to convince him she belongs in his life. The result is a fizzy, occasionally heartfelt mess that knows exactly what it is and plays it straight.
Trailer, via YouTube Movies.
Giselle’s Arrival
Giselle, voiced by Amy Adams, is the kind of character who walks into a room and brightens it. She sings, she dances, and she believes everything she sees. The problem is that everyone else in the room thinks she’s crazy. That tension drives the whole movie. Robert, played by Patrick Dempsey, is the perfect foil. He’s closed off, jaded, and he can’t understand why anyone would want to live happily ever after. Their chemistry is the engine that keeps the plot moving.
Adams carries the film with a warmth that feels genuine even when the script asks her to act like a cartoon. Dempsey matches her energy without ever losing his dry wit. Together they make a pairing that works better than most rom-com leads.
From Cartoon to City
The premise is simple. Giselle is a princess from a fictional animated kingdom who is betrothed to Prince Edward, played by James Marsden. On her wedding day, a villain named Nathaniel, played by Timothy Spall, sabotages the ceremony and sends Giselle tumbling through a magical portal into Times Square. There she meets Robert, who mistakes her for a stalker at first but eventually agrees to help her find her way back to her world.
The transition from cartoon to city is handled with a light touch. The movie doesn’t explain the rules of its universe. It just lets Giselle land and start moving forward. That decision pays off. It keeps the story moving without getting bogged down in exposition.
The Villain’s Plan
Nathaniel is the real threat in the movie. He wants Giselle for himself, and he’ll stop at nothing to get her. His plan involves kidnapping, deception, and a lot of sneering at the idea of true love. Spall plays him with a gleeful menace that makes him the most interesting character in the film. He’s the reason the stakes feel real even when the setup is absurd.
The movie spends a lot of time on Nathaniel’s schemes, and they keep escalating. That keeps the tension high throughout the second half. The villain’s plan is the spine of the plot, and it holds the story together when the romantic comedy elements start to sag.
Music and Song
The songs are a mixed bag. The movie opens with a cheerful ballad that sets the tone, and it works. The ballads that follow are less successful. They’re pleasant enough, but they don’t add much to the story. The musical numbers are the weakest part of the film. They slow the pacing and sometimes undercut the emotional weight of the scenes around them.
The best song is the one that introduces Giselle. It’s bright, catchy, and it captures her personality perfectly. The others are serviceable at best. They don’t earn their place in the running time.
The Romantic Comedy Formula
The film follows a standard romantic comedy structure. Two people meet, they fight, they make up, and they fall in love. The formula is familiar, but the execution is solid. The movie doesn’t waste time on unnecessary subplots. It sticks to the central relationship and lets it breathe.
The humor comes from the clash between Giselle’s optimism and Robert’s cynicism. That dynamic is the heart of the movie. It’s the reason the jokes land. The film knows when to hold back and when to lean into the absurdity, and it finds a balance that most comedies can’t manage.
The City as Character
New York City is a character in its own right. The movie uses the city as a contrast to Giselle’s fairy-tale world. The crowds, the buildings, and the general chaos provide a backdrop that makes Giselle’s arrival feel real. The city is as much a setting as a mood.
The movie also uses the city to explore Giselle’s adjustment to the real world. She’s amazed by skyscrapers, confused by traffic, and overwhelmed by the sheer number of people. These moments ground the fantasy elements in something relatable. The city is a character that helps the audience connect with Giselle’s journey.
The Ending
The ending is a callback to the beginning. Giselle gets what she wanted, and Robert learns to believe in true love. It’s a happy ending, and it feels earned. The movie doesn’t cheat the audience by changing its rules at the last minute. It sticks to the fairy-tale logic it established from the start.
The final scene brings the whole story full circle. It’s a satisfying conclusion that leaves the audience smiling. The ending earns its sentiment without crossing into mawkish territory.
What Works Best
Here’s what Enchanted does best:
- The chemistry between Giselle and Robert
- The performance of Timothy Spall as Nathaniel
- The use of New York City as a character
- The opening ballad that introduces Giselle
- The pacing of the romantic comedy structure
These elements are the film’s strengths, and they’re what make it memorable.
Final Score
Enchanted is a flawed but enjoyable film. It’s a tribute to the Disney animation that inspired it, a romantic comedy with heart, and a fairy tale that refuses to take itself too seriously. The songs aren’t great, and the pacing drags in spots, but the performances carry it. Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey are excellent together, and the chemistry between them is the real star of the show.
The movie is a guilty pleasure that works. It doesn’t try to be a masterpiece, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s a fun ride that knows when to laugh and when to let the audience feel something real.
- The chemistry between Giselle and Robert anchors the film.
- Nathaniel provides the necessary tension.
- The city functions as a character in its own right.
- The songs are pleasant but forgettable.
- The ending delivers a satisfying payoff.
Enchanted isn’t a classic, but it’s a solid piece of entertainment. It earns its 7.5 out of 10.
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