Enchanted
Review by Jason Gaston
I did something I've always wanted to
do a few days ago. I got in a car, drove for a couple of hours, and
went to one of the few drive in movie theaters left in the country.
It was my first
time... getting my drive in movie going cherry popped and even though
I didn't care to see either of the movies showing, I watched both of
the features on the double bill - National Treasure: Book of
Secrets and Enchanted.
Back when I had oodles of time and money to blow as I saw fit, I would
purposefully go and see movies I thought I wouldn't like. For one, I
felt it would prevent me from turning into a movie snob and outwardly
dismissing stuff off hand. Secondly, I thought that if I were to watch
some of these movie I thought I didn't want to see, I would make some
nice discoveries along the way and surprise myself.
Such is the case with Enchanted. Don't get me wrong, I love
Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, and all those movies but
the recent trend in capitalizing on the Disney princesses strikes me
as unpleasant. So you can imagine that a movie about an animated
princess stuck in the real world was not something that registered
very many pings on my manly radar.
Brother, I was wrong. Enchanted is the kind of movie that takes
the Disney princess trend, shines a big glaring spotlight on it, and
lampoons it. Any movie that opens with a song about "true love's kiss"
with lyrics this insanely horrible gets multiple kudos in my book.
Enchanted is, obviously, the story of an animated princess
getting kicked into the real world (a place where there are no happily
ever afters) and falling into the lap of a cynical divorce attorney
who, despite his instincts otherwise, elects to help her. Next thing
you know, the real world is being invaded by a toadie, a prince, a
talking chipmunk, and an evil queen.
Folks, I loved this movie. There are long sequences in it that are
hilarious and keeps you laughing despite the herniated tear in your
side. Amy Adams, James Marsden, and Susan Sarandon are spot on perfect
in their roles as the lost cartoon characters and Patrick Dempsey
compliments them perfectly as the New York divorce attorney.
The best thing about Enchanted is that not only does it manage
a few jabs as Disney and this stupid princess thing, but it also makes
a comment about all of us in the real world and about how happy we
could be if we all choose to be.
Paint me pink and call me Porky, I think I just stumbled onto one of
the best comedies of the year. Thank you, drive in theater!