A bright, self-aware fairy-tale romcom that gets a lot of mileage from its fish-out-of-water premise, catchy musical numbers, and a genuinely winning lead performance. It’s sweet without being toothless, playful about Disney conventions, and still funny for adults.
Enchanted
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Comedy · Family
Tue · 1h 47m
Director: Kevin Lima
Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden
Overview
The beautiful princess Giselle is banished by an evil queen from her magical, musical animated land and finds herself in the gritty reality of the streets of modern-day Manhattan. Shocked by this strange new environment that doesn't operate on a "happily ever after" basis, Giselle is now adrift in a chaotic world badly in need of enchantment. But when Giselle begins to fall in love with a charmingly flawed divorce lawyer who has come to her aid - even though she is already promised to a perfect fairy tale prince back home - she has to wonder: Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?
Director
Kevin Lima
Cast
Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden
Curator Review
Verdict
A bright, self-aware fairy-tale romcom that gets a lot of mileage from its fish-out-of-water premise, catchy musical numbers, and a genuinely winning lead performance. It’s sweet without being toothless, playful about Disney conventions, and still funny for adults.
Best for
families looking for a clean crowd-pleaser
viewers who like romantic comedies with fantasy elements
fans of musical comedy and fairy-tale parody
people who enjoy earnest, high-energy performances
Skip if
you dislike saccharine or openly sentimental storytelling
you want a more subversive or edge-heavy satire
you’re not in the mood for musical numbers
you prefer romance that stays grounded in realism
Overview
Enchanted works because it commits completely to its own joke and then keeps finding new ways to make that joke charming. The film understands fairy-tale logic well enough to parody it, but it never sneers at the genre; instead, it treats sincerity as the punchline and the payoff at the same time. That balance is what keeps it from feeling like a gimmick.
Worth noting
Amy Adams is the engine of the movie, giving Giselle a wide-eyed sweetness that never turns into blankness. The Manhattan material gives the film its best comic contrast, and the romance has enough warmth to make the central love triangle feel more than decorative. It’s also a movie with a strong sense of visual play, from the animated opening to the live-action musical set pieces.
Bottom line
If you want a family-friendly fantasy that still has wit for adults, this is an easy recommendation. It may be too polished and too cute for viewers allergic to Disney gloss, but for everyone else it’s one of the rare modern studio fantasies that feels both affectionate and self-aware.
Top Letterboxd reviews
cinéfila... 🕯️ (5★) · 8390 likes
not to overreact but this is the best movie ever made and amy adams deserved an oscar for it
mia lee vicino (3.5★) · 6570 likes
if my bf of 5 years left me for a cartoon princess .......... :/
Jay (3★) · 4079 likes
pip the chipmunk would fucking batter alvin and the chipmunks
sophie (4★) · 3304 likes
fun fact: giselle and i had our sexual awakenings at the exact same moment - when she caressed patrick dempsey's chest
molly (5★) · 3215 likes
prince edward himbo of my dreams yup
Themes
fish-out-of-water, fairy-tale parody, romantic comedy, musical fantasy, sincerity vs cynicism, city vs fantasy, self-aware storytelling, happily-ever-after idealism
Topics
musical comedy, fairy tale, romantic fantasy, fish-out-of-water, family-friendly, whimsical, self-aware, New York City, 2000s, earnest