'Enchanted' lasts, 'Legend' doesn't
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, March 16, 2008
We all need a happy working song.
Too bad Snow White grabbed that "whistle" number.
Sending up the concept, "Enchanted" suggests what might happen if cartoons could come to life.
In a word, the concept is heavenly.
Lost and clueless, a typical Disney princess named Giselle lands in New York City where she can't find her happily ever after.
Like "Shrek" and several other Dreamworks cartoons, "Enchanted" takes great delight referencing a dozen animated films while retaining a good deal of their tradition.
Before having the ultimate princess meltdown, Giselle (beautifully played by Amy Adams) runs into a divorce lawyer (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter. They take her home and try to teach her the ways of a not-so-forgiving world. In exchange, she gets roaches, rats and pigeons to clean their apartment. She makes dresses out of drapes and tries to find Edward (James Marsden) her intended. He shows up, too, after the evil queen (Susan Sarandon) threatens to drive a wedge between the two.
Director Kevin Lima is such a Disney scholar he makes scenes a visual quiz for fans of animation. Giselle has touches of Snow White, Cinderella and Ariel. Edward is the classic dim prince. Julie Andrews serves as the film's narrator and, if you're a real Disney geek, you'll note that Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel) is Dempsey's secretary and Paige O'Hara (the voice of Belle) is a soap opera actress. There's a scene that's right out of "Lady and the Tramp" and the big production number in the park features direct steals from "Beauty and the Beast."
Sarandon, too, is so deliciously Maleficent she should have done a Disney voice long, long ago.
While Dempsey comes off as a bit of a stiff, Marsden is just right, relying on television to give him his Magic Mirror fix.
The ending isn't exactly what you'd expect, but Adams is the perfect Disney heroine. She has the dim part down so well "Enchanted" would disappear in a poof of smoke without her.
When she sings her "Happy Working Song," the live-action world doesn't seem so bad after all. There are happy endings these days. They just take a little work to find.
Also: 'I am Legend'
Will Smith knows how to open a film -- he's one of the most successful actors working today -- but he can't always close.
"I am Legend," his latest, starts well enough, then dissolves into a horror film mess. It's "Alien vs. Predator" meets "28 Days Later."
Smith stars as one of the last men on earth. A plague has swept across the world and he's left to roam the streets of New York with his dog Sam.
How he spends his days is interesting stuff -- can one man make it alone? Then director Francis Lawrence tosses in some mutant humans and "I am Legend" becomes just another zombie flick.
Good Will Smith goes hunting for mutants (they can't stand the light, so they stay in warehouses during the day). When those pasty phantoms (right out of "Lord of the Rings") discover what he's up to, they decide to track him, too. The dog is his soft spot so, naturally, she figures into the crucial confrontation.
Flashbacks fill in the gaps. A scientist (played by Emma Thompson) has discovered a cure to cancer. In the process, a plague has arisen. Since there isn't an antidote, people die at an alarming rate. Those who aren't dead somehow disappear. Smith lives in hope that he'll find some of them -- broadcasting his whereabouts daily -- but doesn't see much progress.
Had he stuck to the "Castaway" premise, Lawrence might have had a film worthy of Smith's burgeoning acting skills. Instead, he settles for an action film that's so full of computer animation you'll wonder what's real and what's not.
Also: 'Alpha Male'
What happens when the center of your world disappears? That's the premise behind "Alpha Male," an often-touching story about a family that tries to carry on after the patriarch's death. At the son's 21st birthday, the truth comes out. Danny Huston, Jennifer Ehle, Patrick Baladi and Mrs. Sting -- Trudie Styler -- star. The film has lapses of coherence, but the emotions behind the performances still register.
Also this week:
TV: "A Pup Named Scooby-Doo," season one; "Go Diego Go: Moonlight Rescue"; "Johnny and the Sprites"; "Married...with Children," season eight; "Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show"; "The Untouchables," season two; "Wild Wild West," season four.
Movies: "Alpha Male"; "Love in the Time of Cholera"; "Revolver"; "The Sasquatch Gang"; "Southland Tales"; "Steep"
Too bad Snow White grabbed that "whistle" number.
Sending up the concept, "Enchanted" suggests what might happen if cartoons could come to life.
In a word, the concept is heavenly.
Lost and clueless, a typical Disney princess named Giselle lands in New York City where she can't find her happily ever after.
Like "Shrek" and several other Dreamworks cartoons, "Enchanted" takes great delight referencing a dozen animated films while retaining a good deal of their tradition.
Before having the ultimate princess meltdown, Giselle (beautifully played by Amy Adams) runs into a divorce lawyer (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter. They take her home and try to teach her the ways of a not-so-forgiving world. In exchange, she gets roaches, rats and pigeons to clean their apartment. She makes dresses out of drapes and tries to find Edward (James Marsden) her intended. He shows up, too, after the evil queen (Susan Sarandon) threatens to drive a wedge between the two.
Director Kevin Lima is such a Disney scholar he makes scenes a visual quiz for fans of animation. Giselle has touches of Snow White, Cinderella and Ariel. Edward is the classic dim prince. Julie Andrews serves as the film's narrator and, if you're a real Disney geek, you'll note that Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel) is Dempsey's secretary and Paige O'Hara (the voice of Belle) is a soap opera actress. There's a scene that's right out of "Lady and the Tramp" and the big production number in the park features direct steals from "Beauty and the Beast."
Sarandon, too, is so deliciously Maleficent she should have done a Disney voice long, long ago.
While Dempsey comes off as a bit of a stiff, Marsden is just right, relying on television to give him his Magic Mirror fix.
The ending isn't exactly what you'd expect, but Adams is the perfect Disney heroine. She has the dim part down so well "Enchanted" would disappear in a poof of smoke without her.
When she sings her "Happy Working Song," the live-action world doesn't seem so bad after all. There are happy endings these days. They just take a little work to find.
Also: 'I am Legend'
Will Smith knows how to open a film -- he's one of the most successful actors working today -- but he can't always close.
"I am Legend," his latest, starts well enough, then dissolves into a horror film mess. It's "Alien vs. Predator" meets "28 Days Later."
Smith stars as one of the last men on earth. A plague has swept across the world and he's left to roam the streets of New York with his dog Sam.
How he spends his days is interesting stuff -- can one man make it alone? Then director Francis Lawrence tosses in some mutant humans and "I am Legend" becomes just another zombie flick.
Good Will Smith goes hunting for mutants (they can't stand the light, so they stay in warehouses during the day). When those pasty phantoms (right out of "Lord of the Rings") discover what he's up to, they decide to track him, too. The dog is his soft spot so, naturally, she figures into the crucial confrontation.
Flashbacks fill in the gaps. A scientist (played by Emma Thompson) has discovered a cure to cancer. In the process, a plague has arisen. Since there isn't an antidote, people die at an alarming rate. Those who aren't dead somehow disappear. Smith lives in hope that he'll find some of them -- broadcasting his whereabouts daily -- but doesn't see much progress.
Had he stuck to the "Castaway" premise, Lawrence might have had a film worthy of Smith's burgeoning acting skills. Instead, he settles for an action film that's so full of computer animation you'll wonder what's real and what's not.
Also: 'Alpha Male'
What happens when the center of your world disappears? That's the premise behind "Alpha Male," an often-touching story about a family that tries to carry on after the patriarch's death. At the son's 21st birthday, the truth comes out. Danny Huston, Jennifer Ehle, Patrick Baladi and Mrs. Sting -- Trudie Styler -- star. The film has lapses of coherence, but the emotions behind the performances still register.
Also this week:
TV: "A Pup Named Scooby-Doo," season one; "Go Diego Go: Moonlight Rescue"; "Johnny and the Sprites"; "Married...with Children," season eight; "Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show"; "The Untouchables," season two; "Wild Wild West," season four.
Movies: "Alpha Male"; "Love in the Time of Cholera"; "Revolver"; "The Sasquatch Gang"; "Southland Tales"; "Steep"
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
