Rewind - 2007 in Film: Enchanted

Today when we watch the latest given to us by Disney, it is easy to become a bit jaded with how self aware they have become with their projects. As if we are all part of a joke where the company makes light fun of their well oiled machine of sugary fairytale goodness. I mean, you can hardly watch anything from them without spotting a slew of easter eggs they have planted, as winks to past films and characters.

It can be a bit overdone, but there was a time when such things were more of a quaint novelty. None more so than with 2007’s Enchanted. A live action fairytale, that has plenty of tongue-in-cheek nods to Disney’s well stocked library. And also an original story, which is refreshing to think of retroactively in the light of their present love of remakes and sequels.

Enchanted is an interesting. And unique film to come from Disney, as it can both be looked at as a love letter to them, as well as a satirical parody of their image. But even the very subtle jabs are done in a well loved way, as to not be seen as harsh or abrasive to the Disney image as a whole. It should also be noted that after Disney’s early 2000s choice to move strictly to computer based animation, it is a delight to see traditional two-dimensional cell animation used here.

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The cranky and tired mob of city dwellers could care less about Giselle and her ramblings. Especially if they should interfere in their commute home. She is used to the kindness and gentility. We can’t help but feel sorry for her as she gets pushed around, and misunderstood, when all she wants is just a little help. Help comes along in the first fleshed out characters of the real world we meet. In the form of cynical divorce lawyer, Robert (Patrick Dempsey), and his shy young daughter, Morgan (Rachel Covey).

Giselle’s arrival into their routine life is jarring to say the least, as she brings a touch of her world into theirs. These fantastical things, such as singing a song to bring animal friends to aid in cleaning the apartment (being the big apple these include rats, pigeons, flies and cockroaches), are a wonder to wide eyed Morgan, and a nightmare to Robert. Giselle does not see anything wrong in these displays, and we can soon see Robert being charmed by her relative naivety.

Things, though, are not helped with the fact that his girlfriend and probable future finance, Nancy (Indina Menzel), is not too keen on this woman staying with them. What is a bit refreshing here is the fact that they don’t paint Nancy as the bitter girlfriend who gets rejected in the end, and gets turned into nothing more than a throwaway caricature. Instead, as the movie progresses we, as the viewer, see that her and Robert just aren’t meant to be. And that’s okay.

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The line between the fairytale world and the real world begin to blur even more, as Giselle’s chipmunk friend Pip makes Prince Edward aware of her disappearance. The two make the jump to our world with Nathaniel in hot pursuit, to keep the two lovers from reuniting. Once in New York City, it is apparent that a few things that made life simple in their world are no longer available to them. Most notably, Pip losing access to his speaking voice, and not being able to communicate to Edward that Nathaniel cannot be trusted.

Giselle being a fish out of water in this odd new world, spends the day with Robert. And their time together seems to have an effect on both of them. With Robert, we see Giselle become a little more self aware, and question the status quo of what her life in Andalasia means. With Giselle, we see Robert loosen up a bit, and look at the world around him with more forgiving eyes.

Even though she vows to try and help Robert win back Nancy’s affections, it is easy to see that the two of them are the ones who should truly end up together. Along with the fact that Giselle seamlessly bonds with Morgan in a way that Robert sees as wonderful. Given his worries of what not having a mother figure may have on her in the long run.

After just a short time spent together, we see the new people they have become, with the best of each other’s influence on one another. This is especially true when Prince Edward finally arrives. Giselle, who once wanted nothing more than the idealized future she imagined, is now disappointed to see him.

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Going against what she once believed, she insists to Edward that they go on a proper date before they wed. After Robert informed her that is what all couples engage in before even considering marriage. But the innocent romantic encounter they shared is gone. And Giselle knows this even though Prince Edward is a bit too dense to see it. Which we can’t help but pity in him.

Things come to a climax at the King and Queen’s Costume Ball, where Edward and Giselle end up after their date, and where Robert and Nancy already are. As the two couples converge, it is impossible to not feel sorry for Edward and Nancy, as we again witness the true connection between Giselle and Robert.

This painted to us even more clearly with a grandiose and romantic dance shared between the two. Before they part, for what they believe to be the final time. Leaving the ball, as all the couples decked out in period appropriate regal attire dance in and out of our view, we see one final glance from Giselle, as she seems to yearn for one final glance from Robert.

This is interrupted, though, by the sudden appearance of the Queen. Who has come after Nathaniel failed multiple times in killing Giselle. Smugly grinning as a forlorn Giselle takes one bite of her poisoned apple, she relishes in momentary victory. Only for it to be taken away by a true love’s kiss. Turning the tables on what we are accustomed to in such stories, Giselle becomes the one to save Robert.