Enchanted

Anchored, of course, by Amy Adams’ marvelously entertaining performance, Enchanted ultimately comes off as an admittedly overlong yet thoroughly engaging effort that brings a fresh spin to the old fish-out-of-water formula. The story opens within the animated landscape of Andalusia, where Princess Giselle (Adams) is preparing to wed the dashing Prince Edward (James Marsden). Problems ensue after Edward’s vindictive step-mother (Susan Sarandon’s Queen Narissa) banishes Giselle to the real-life world of the Big Apple, with the remainder of the movie following Giselle’s efforts to ingratiate herself among jaded New Yorkers (including Patrick Dempsey’s cynical Robert). Though the majority of Enchanted unfolds in precisely the sort of manner one might’ve anticipated, it’s worth noting that screenwriter Bill Kelly has peppered the proceedings with a handful of genuinely unexpected plot developments (ie it actually takes a while to figure out which suitor Giselle will ultimately wind up with). Kevin Lima’s disappointingly bland direction notwithstanding, Enchanted proves awfully effective in poking fun at the various conventions inherent within Disney’s classic animated works – which ensures that while the movie does start to run out of steam as it approaches its overblown finale, there’s certainly plenty here worth recommending and admiring (Timothy Spall’s hilariously broad turn as Narissa’s evil henchman, for one).

*** out of ****