ENCHANTED

RATING 3.5

(Director: Kevin Lima, PG, 107 min)

Can a fairy tale princess come to the real world and find something better than happily ever after?

Giselle (Amy Adams) is a beautiful maiden in the fairy tale world of Andalasia, she and her woodland friends are preparing for the day when she will meet her Prince and they will share true love’s kiss and live happily ever after. Pip (Jeff Bennett, Kevin Lima) the chipmunk is her best friend and aide.

Prince Edward (James Marsden) and Nathaniel (Timothy Spall) are troll hunting when the Prince hears Giselle singing and knows he has found his Princess. The evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) doesn’t want to lose her title to a little usurping princess and will stop at nothing to keep her stepson Edward from marrying.

Giselle is banished to a place where storybook endings are left in the library – New York City. She has a rough start but meets Morgan (Rachel Covey) and her handsome dad, Robert (Patrick Dempsey). As a divorce attorney Robert has a pretty jaded view of love, his long time girlfriend Nancy (Idina Menzel) could probably attest to his indifference to romance. Giselle is sure that Edward will come to rescue her (and she would be right) but the Queen is sending reinforcements to make sure Giselle is out of the picture... forever and ever.

This is such a sweet movie – Amy Adams is a complete delight and she and Patrick look convincingly suited. The big musical numbers are fun and the humor is cute and appropriate. This balances nicely so that you are not put off by too much goodness...or fantasy. James Marsden has some very funny moments as the regal Prince in downtown Manhattan and Pip has a scene stealing pantomime of "what’s really going on". The story is going along wonderfully and then it hits the proverbial castle wall and lands a bit flat. It was disappointing for the finale to be less sparkly than the rest of the movie. We wanted a storybook ending that matched the magic of a real Cinderella ball, but the shoe didn't quite fit - the clock struck 12 and they ran out of magic.

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Movie Chick Leigh Ann:
"I wanted to sing all the way home and make some clothes out of my favorite curtains, charming! – 3.5"

Movie Chick Cherryl:
"I was enchanted by Amy Adams and couldn't stop smiling through most of the movie. With a better finale, this could have made my must-see fantasy list, but it's still a recommend - 3.5"