Kicking Up Some Classic Pixie Dust
The fairies have come alive for Disney's newest twist: Giselle, a young princess-to-be, is cast out of her "happily ever after" animated world thanks to a disapproving evil queen. Giselle is thrust into present day New York City, a shocking place of great cruelty and chaos, to fend for herself. Fans of vintage Disney favorites will be enchanted by Enchanted's near-endless references to classics like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. Of course, our favorite is the law firm our modern day prince currently
finds work: Churchill, Harline and Smith. Maybe the principals are lawyers in the Big Apple today, but in some alternate animated Disney universe
they were songwriters. "Whistle While You Work" anyone? The music on the Enchanted soundtrack CD (Walt Disney Records) begins as vintage as it comes, but with a clarity that fulfills a dream of what it would be like to hear Snow White if modern-day recording technologies were around in 1938. Like the film, the musical inspirations behind Enchanted's songs and score bounce around from early Disney favorites to later classics. Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz's musical numbers paint the most magical pictures and are therefore kept within Giselle's animated world, while modern rock-inspired score music follows her shopping sprees down 5th Avenue. Plenty of musical mickey-mousing keeps both worlds alive, and there's no question regarding just how evil Queen Narissa is... her theme is likely the most apocalyptic piece of music written this year. But if you're looking for some good old Disney animated music and song, you've found it. The biggest stars on this little film are none other than Menken and Schwartz, who together have some 11 Oscars, along with Carrie Underwood... modern-day princess who delivers a big pop sound, belting out those long notes in "Ever Ever After." And Amy Adams, who plays Giselle? Director Kevin Lima is awe-struck: "It may sound a little presumptuous, but she's a modern-day Julie Andrews."
PK (11/25/2007)see all reviews, or add a review
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