Someday My Prince WILL Come!
by Flick Chick Vique
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Enchanted is kissed with 4 & 1/2 Red Vines for putting me under its spell |
There I was: hungry, alone, at the edge of the forest. Still, I had a long, dark trek ahead to reach the cemetery. Suddenly, I came across a kind old woman. Small, with a scarf tied around her head, she wore a heavy coat. At her feet rested a basket with 4 fresh apples. She beckoned me to buy one and though we didn’t speak the same language, I understood that she was telling me they were sweet as I plucked the word ‘dulce’ from her stream of sounds. We haggled over price and when she was happy, I took my apple and headed up a long dark wooden staircase that would lead me to my destination up the hill. When I emerged from the other side, I rested along the ruins of a stone fence. I took my bottle of club soda and washed off my apple. That’s when it hit me and I looked up and said, “God, please don’t tell me I just bought a poisoned apple from a witch!”
No, this isn’t part of the plotline to Enchanted but it sounds like a story plucked right from Disney’s finest table! This really happened to me during my vacation in Transylvania just a couple of weeks ago. When I reunited with my tour group, I told them of my experience and admonished them that if I fell in a deep sleep, to find me a prince to kiss me quick!
Any girl who grows up with Disney is bound to have the tales of princes and princesses, witches and castles stay deep within her soul for the rest of her life. And as sweet as Enchanted is for the whole family, I can’t help but feel like it’s really meant for us full-grown girls who are still looking for our prince and a life of happily ever after.
The magic of Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty continues in this most unusual romantic comedy that mixes classic animation and live action with enchanting results! The movie opens with a sweet nostalgic animated musical number where our newest princess in waiting, Giselle, sings about the joys of true love’s kiss, helped of course by her court in waiting: rabbits, birds, chipmunks and other assorted woodland creatures. Once united with her prince she sets out to the castle to get married. Of course there’s a jealous, evil step mommy who interferes, sending Giselle to a place where no one lives happily ever after: New York City!
A wondering lost Giselle is taken in by a man (Patrick Dempsey) and his adorable princess struck daughter (Rachel Covey). They are not at all sure what to make of Giselle but succumb to her amazing charms. Not to be left at the alter, the prince does what all princes do: he comes to Giselle’s rescue. But the evil queen (Susan Sarandon) is in hot pursuit. Along with her servant, they plot to kill Giselle with of all things-wait for it- poisoned apples!
I can’t tell you how much magic and charm is stuffed into this short hour and forty-seven minutes! A LOT of that comes from Amy Adams (June bug) as Giselle. She is simply the perfect personification of every classic Disney princess come to life. Lovely, lively, with a voice so clear and pitch perfect, she makes believing someone like her could exist so easy. James Marsden (Hairspray) is evenly matched as her gung ho prince. Both elevate the wonderful score by veterans Alan Merken (Disney’s Aladdin, Hunchback) and Stephen Schwartz (Broadway’s Pippin, Godspell, Wicked) to more than mere mortal music!
Of course Patrick Dempsey as Robert the single dad bewitched by Giselle provides plenty of unrequited steaminess! We should all be so lucky to be burdened with the decision of who to pick between McDreamy and Marsden!
But I think what I liked most about Enchanted was that while it was definitely Disney in all around wholesomeness and wonderfulness, it was Disney with attitude! There is a cocky, naughty spirit underneath that validates, for me, my opinion that this movie was made for all us grown up gals.
While I think the movie might not be very entertaining for children under 5, it is fair game for everyone else. For anyone who still carries the dream of happily ever after in her (or his!) heart, this is one sweet valentine from the house with a mouse.
Enchanted is a loving homage to so many Disney classics. Here are some of the many ‘Hidden References’ in Enchanted. Happy hunting!
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