Opening Day: 22 November 2007

Synopsis:

A classic Disney fairytale collides with modern-day New York City in a story about a fairytale princess (AMY ADAMS) from the past who is thrust into present-day by an evil queen (SUSAN SARANDON). Soon after her arrival, Princess Giselle begins to change her views on life and love after meeting a handsome lawyer (PATRICK DEMPSEY). Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?

Movie Review:

Someone find me a girl who can sing and dance like Princess Giselle, and I’ll marry her immediately. Wait, she is a fairytale princess (a Disney one to be exact), which means, she only exists in a fairytale world (a Disney one, to be exact again) – shucks.

Amy Adams (Junebug) plays Giselle, a pretty princess who is thrown into the real world we live in (where there is no such thing as happily-ever-after, shudders!) by her prince’s evil stepmother. She lands up in New York City and meets a lawyer who isn’t the luckiest man when it comes to love. Soon, everyone from the animated world crosses over and poisonous apples, singing characters and an evil dragon begin coming into play.

Trust the House of Mouse to come up with such a witty concept – and thankfully, well-executed too.

Director Kevin Lima (Tarzan, 102 Dalmatians) gathers a capable cast including Patrick Dempsey (Freedom Writers, TV’s Grey’s Anatomy) to affectionately play the handsome lawyer, James Marsden (Hairspray, X-Men) to take off his Cyclops shades to play the vain prince and Susan Sarandon (Mr. Woodcock) to rival Stardust’s Michelle Pfeiffer by playing the evil witch.

But the real gem is Adam’s Giselle. Her every gesture looks exactly like an animated princess, her every singing line soars exactly like the soundtrack of a Disney musical and her sweet floral dress seems to be exactly like the colorful 2D dresses worn by the lovely Disney princesses. If I could, I would want to nominate this 33-year-old (she sure doesn’t look like her age) for her shining portrayal for an Oscar… or something.

This immensely enjoyable holiday movie will please everyone, from its catchy and hum-worthy tunes which echo those old-school Disney songs where forest animals all gather to help clean up the house, to the impressive computer animation which features some very cool animatronics (watch out for the sequence where a chipmunk attempts to tell the prince an important piece of news – charades style).

There is never a dull moment in this refreshing and clever 107-minute musical comedy. You’ll howl in laughter at the witty tributes to Disney princesses, you’ll smile at the winning charm of the movie’s magic, you may even feel touched that there is some possibility of finding true love in the somewhat harsh and cold urban city we live in.

Now, as this concerns my happiness, let me continue my search for this girl who can sing and dance like Princess Giselle - not in Disney animated classics, but in the real world.

Movie Rating:

(The smart and pleasing Disney movie will enchant you, and may even rekindle your hope of finding true love in the real world)

Review by John Li