Tangled (***½)
Directed by: Nathan Greno and Byron Howard
Starring (voices): Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron
Perlman
Seen: February 6th 2011
***½ Out of ****
Tangled is one of the most surprising movies I’ve ever seen, as I went
into the cinema expecting nothing but a fun little Disney movie with a few
amusing moments and a stock-standard Disney love story. What I did get was so
much more than merely standard. Tangled is one of the most entertaining and
endearing animated (or real life, for that matter) movies I’ve seen. It is
strictly fairy tale, as characters do break into song (and even some relatively
grand dance numbers) a few times. But, whenever the singing started, I didn’t
experience a feeling of: “Please, really?” but rather one of true enjoyment at
the pure and simple joy-imbued innocence displayed on screen. And really, I mean
that. In Shrek we had the little bird exploding as Fiona started singing, and
while that was funny, in Tangled we’re back to old fashioned fairy tale storytelling,
where the princess breaks into song and the birds join her and the viewer knows
this is unreal, but that’s what you came to the movie for.
Rapunzel (Moore) has magic hair that Mother Gothel (Murphy) is holding
her prisoner for, using it to retain her
youth by manipulating Rapunzel into loving her and singing for her to activate
the power of her hair. She lives in a tall tower (who built it, and for what
purpose, we’ll never know, but just roll with it), in a natural enclosure only accessible
through a cave hidden by a curtain of vines. Gothel has Rapunzel believe she
needs to stay in the tower to be protected from the outside world, while also
managing to have the innocent Rapunzel not harbour any dark feelings towards
her. In truth Gothel stole Rapunzel from the King and Queen 18 years earlier,
after losing her initial means of remaining young forever.
Flynn Rider on the other hand is not so location disadvantaged. He is
a thief and free spirit, and, having just stolen a very important object right
from under the nose of the Palace Guards, is on the run. After some altercation
with the lawmen chasing him, he has only Maximus, the lead guard’s horse, on
his trail like a bloodhound (literally). In evading him he stumbles upon the
hidden tower, and “meets” Rapunzel in her prison, where she restrains him and
makes a deal with him to take her on a trip to the outside world. The two are
an instantly likeable couple, but as is the case with Disney movies, they first
have to realise it and learn to act on it. Flynn also has to deal with Mother Gothel
and his earlier thieving companions The Stabbington Brothers (Perlman), and
they do not make Flynn’s pursuit easy.
Tangled is infused with the innocence of fairy tale, as even a bunch of
unruly thugs break into song and dance about what dreams they harbour apart
from being fierce criminals (being concert pianists and mimes are but two of
the dreams mentioned). The love story is all innocence and beautifully
portrayed with a few truly enchanting and adventurous moments enhanced by good
use of 3D. Disney has, in their 50th animated feature film, created
a movie that clearly announces to the world that they are still a major player,
and even though not everyone will think so, Tangled is now one of my all-time favourite
animated movies.
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