- Location: AMC Flatiron Crossing 14
- Since I started reviewing movies back in 2008, I've seen 21 feature-length animated films. Incidentally, I'm quite proud that animated fare has comprised approximately 10% of my total viewing over that time period. What really struck me as I sat down to write this review, however, was that Tangled is the first film I've reviewed that was made by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Sure, many of the Studio Ghibli and Pixar films were owned and/or distributed by Disney, but it's been forever since I've seen a real Disney film. Part of that is certainly my fault - I'll eventually get around to reviewing Fantasia, Snow White, and Pinocchio - but what about their more recent output? A wikipedia search reveals completely obscure titles like Home on the Range and Meet the Robinsons intermingled with slightly more popular movies, like Lilo & Stitch or The Princess and the Frog, that I simply could never bring myself to see. My god, what happened to the world's premier animation studio?
- Whatever the explanation for Disney's lackluster releases over the past fifteen years, I'm pleased to report that Tangled should only help to reverse that trend. While the first ten minutes feel a bit obligatory, the story quickly picks up once we get to know the main characters. Though imprisoned in a tower, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) is a far cry from the usual damsel-in-distress. Within the confines of her room, she and her amusing pet chameleon creatively pass the time by painting, reading, and, of course, combing through her rather copious amounts of hair. What she wants to do most, however, is to explore the source of the mysterious lights that annually blanket the sky on her birthday. Of course, that is the last thing that her overbearing adopted mother, Gothel (Donna Murphy), would ever allow since the lights mournfully commemorate Gothel's own kidnapping of Rapunzel from the royal family long ago. In the ensuing years, the ancient witch has taken great pains to shield Rapunzel from the outside world in order to take sole advantage of the magical healing properties of her golden locks.
- And so things progress until a debonair thief named Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) happens to take refuge in Rapunzel's tower. Though she initially greets him in a somewhat less than hospitable manner (i.e. a frying pan to the head), Rapunzel eventually grants Ryder his freedom in exchange for her first tour of the outside world. Soon, the two of them are having adventures visiting bars populated by a motley crew of tuneful dreamers (voiced by Brad Garret, Jeffrey Tambor, and Richard Kiel!), escaping flooded caves, and finally attending the beautifully rendered lantern festival. Never far behind them, however, are a whole host of foes, including the diabolically desperate Gothel, a criminal set of brothers (both voiced by Ron Perlman), and their most persistent pursuer, a stalwart stallion named Maximus. I would normally intend it as an insult to say that a horse was the best part of a movie, but in this case I mean it as the highest compliment.
- While the story is constrained by its source to contain a few predictable weaves, Tangled generally proves to be a very entertaining adaptation of a familiar tale. In my mind, the film's two major successes are Gothel and Maximus, both of whom are absolutely riveting for completely different reasons. Gothel is evil is a way that only an overprotective parent can be, while Maximus is much more hilarious than you would ever expect a horse could be. The film's characterization of Rapunzel also impresses by making her far more independent and intelligent than is usually allowed in fairy tale-type stories. The film's music and art are good enough, and it is worth noting that Disney's CGI capabilities have finally caught up with traditional animation. Hopefully, this will be the first in a long series of enjoyable Disney animated features to come.
- I had to suppress a groan at the film's opening line: "This is the story of how I died." What is this, Sunset Blvd.? I think they should go back to "Once upon a time..."
