The only negative comment I can make about Disney’s new animated feature Tangled is that I still don’t like the title. Originally called Rapunzel, the film took on the name Tangled when Disney thought it might provide a broader appeal (read: boys might come see a movie if the title isn’t a girl’s name). Aside from that, Rapunzel, er, Tangled, exceeds all of my expectations and can easily draw comparisons to earlier masterpieces Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Aladdin.
Alan Menken can take some of the credit for that; he scored those films as well as Tangled, and though the music doesn’t quite meet the bar set by the earlier films, the songs are catchy and beautifully sung by Mandy Moore. And the duet . . . the duet is a showstopper. Add Glen Keane to the mix as directing animator, (animator for Ariel and the Beast) and you have a recipe for a winner.
Tangled is the story of young and spirited Rapunzel, who has been kept trapped in a tower her entire life. And though her prison has no bars, trapped she is. Her loyalty to her mother keeps her from leaving, but her birthday approaches and the rebellious teenager inside begins to emerge. Her mother visits her often, using Rapunzel’s abundant locks to ascend the tower wall, but their relationship is complex. Rapunzel has never known another human being, and in her naivete doesn’t realize that her mother’s insults and criticisms are emotionally abusive.
She does, however, recognize that the world extends beyond her tower, and she dreams of leaving and exploring the kingdom. Her chance comes in the form of a bold and handsome thief named Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi, Chuck). The contrast between his worldliness and her innocence is fascinating to watch, and I found that for animated characters, they have a lot of chemistry.
And I must mention that the animation is exquisite. Every frame is rich with details and vividly colored. I particularly recall how detailed the lace at the cuff of Rapunzel’s dress looked. The landscape is so lush and fanciful it makes me want to grab some paint and a canvas and duplicate it. Or at least make an effort at it, for duplication would be impossible.
I also must mention that children will be enchanted by the noble steed Maximus and Rapunzel’s pet chameleon Pascal. These are not the kind of sidekicks that talk or sing, but they are still entertaining characters. I predict a lot of requests for plush versions of these guys as Christmas approaches.
The most magical and moving scene of all is what I will call “The Boat Scene.” I don’t want to give anything away, but the song and the lavish animation at that point in the film melts my ice-cold heart. If you don’t believe in fairy tales or that dreams can come true, you will after seeing Tangled. How much did I love this film? I’m planning to see it a second time this week, and I’ve already purchased the soundtrack.
Let your hair down and enjoy the movie!
