"ENCHANTED"
Starring Amy Adams,
Patrick Dempsey, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden
Opening date: Nov. 21, 2007

WATCH THE TRAILER

MOST DISNEY FAIRY tales feature singing animals, beautiful princesses, evil stepmothers, and magic. “Enchanted,” a new Disney movie that will hit theaters Wednesday, is no exception.

However, there’s one major twist: In “Enchanted,” the animated world and the real world meet.

Giselle (Amy Adams) is a young woman who lives in Andalasia, an animated, magical, and musical world with her animal friends, particularly a chipmunk who is her best friend. She and the prince, Edward, fall in love and plan to marry.

This upsets Edward’s stepmother, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), who fears for her crown and is jealous of the young couple. In her anger she banishes Giselle, pushing her into a portal that connects Andalasia to New York City.

The film begins in traditional 2-D animation in the fairy-tale land of Andalasia. Once Giselle is pushed through the portal, the film becomes live action to accommodate the modern-day city’s feel.

In New York, Giselle is lost and thrown by the different and chaotic ways of the inhabitants, so different from her fairy-tale land. Help comes to Giselle in the form of Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey), an engaged divorce lawyer, and his 6-year-old daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey).

Robert shows Giselle around the city, and while she waits for Prince Edward (James Marsden) to come and rescue her, a romance develops between Giselle and Robert. Giselle must deal with Edward’s evil stepmother and decide who her true love is.

There is a possibility that Giselle may become a Disney princess. While she is currently being marketed as one, whether or not that remains will largely depend on the success of the film.

“Enchanted” has many of the familiar aspects that classic Disney fairy tales coined. The interaction between woodland animals and Giselle is common to other Disney stories. Dances occur throughout the movie, even in the live action filmed in New York City.

Several songs in “Enchanted” serve a similar purpose as numbers from earlier tales did. The romance is also comparable to that in a few other Disney movies, such as "Beauty and the Beast," "Pocahontas," and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," where two men are in love with Giselle.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Kevin Lima said his vision was to make a “joyful Disney classic” that is “a modern-day ‘Mary Poppins.’” He saw “Enchanted” as a perfect opportunity to do this. (Perhaps not coincidentally, Julie Andrews — who starred as Mary Poppins in the 1964 film — narrates "Enchanted.")

There are also numerous references to "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Sleeping Beauty," "The Little Mermaid," "Cinderella," "Mulan," "Alice in Wonderland," "Brother Bear," and "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh." While there are many relations to other Disney movies, there are also some main differences.

In “Enchanted” the princess-to-be Giselle isn’t a supporting role. She doesn’t need Prince Charming to save her whenever there is trouble. This will be a nice change to the typical princess stereotype many fairy tales portray. Young girls will be exposed more to the idea that they can lead their own lives without needing a man to guide them.

When Giselle is banished to New York City she must learn to take care of herself in the nonfairy-tale world. Some may see this as a better influential view about life’s circumstances than other Disney stories. How Giselle prevails in combining her two worlds will send a positive message about perseverance and hope to audiences.

"Enchanted" opens Wednesday at the Goodrich Savoy 16 Theatres, 232 W. Burwash, Savoy, and the GKC Beverly 18, 910 Meijers Drive, Champaign.

"ENCHANTED" AT A GLANCE: CAST

• Julie Andrews………………………………….Narrator (voice)
• Amy Adams…………………………………….Giselle
• Patrick Dempsey……………………………...Robert Philip
• James Marsden………………………………..Prince Edward
• Timothy Spall…………………………………..Nathaniel
• Rachel Covey…………………………………..Morgan Philip
• Susan Sarandon……………………………….Queen Narissa
• Idina Menzel…………………………………….Nancy Tremaine

"ENCHANTED" AT A GLANCE: CHARACTERS

• Giselle: Lives in Andalasia; engaged to marry Prince Edward
• Prince Edward: Prince who lives in Andalasia; handsome, thick-headed stepson of Queen Narissa; engaged to marry Giselle
• Queen Narissa: Evil queen of Andalasia; Prince Edward’s stepmother
• Robert Philip: Friendly, imperfect divorce lawyer; engaged to marry Nancy Tremaine
• Nancy Tremaine: Engaged to Robert
• Morgan Philip: Rob’s 6-year-old daughter
• Nathaniel: Prince’s servant from Andalasia

"ENCHANTED" AT A GLANCE: QUICK FACTS

• Director: Kevin Lima
• Producer: Barry Sonnenfeld
• Writer: Bill Kelly
• Music: Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz
• Cinematographer: Don Burgess
• Editors: Gregory Perler, Stephen A. Rotter
• Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
• Rating: PG (for some scary images and mild innuendo)
• Genre: Animation, adventure, comedy, family, fantasy, musical, romance