Disenchanted (dir. Adam Shankman) is the sequel to Enchanted (dir. Kevin Lima) that we never knew we needed. The film starts after a time jump from the first move, where Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) have gotten married and had a child together. Disenchanted shows what happens in the real world after “happily ever after”–and how not everything will always work perfectly.
Disenchanted once again follows Giselle as she navigates daily life as a mother of two and housewife in New York City. The film does a wonderful job at showing the way that her innocence and childlike wonder at some things never truly goes away, even as she has learned how to manage life and grown as a person since the last movie. This portrayal of innocence by Amy Adams is marvelously acted and is part of the reason she follows the arc that she does throughout Disenchanted. Though she starts off strong, Giselle soon decides that in order to have a true happily ever after with her husband and children, they must move to the suburbs and start fresh. But with the fixer-upper state of the house that they move in to, happiness seems out of reach, and moving isn’t the immediate fix that Giselle thinks it will be for her family.
Other characters, like Robert and his daughter (Giselle’s stepdaughter) Morgan (Gabriella Baldacchino) also struggle in their new house, specifically, Robert struggles with his commute to work, and Morgan has issues in her new school. Overall, nothing is as perfect as desired, but it only continues to get worse, reaching a tipping point for Giselle when she is referred to by Morgan as “nothing more than a stepmother.” This comment is something Giselle is truly hurt by and takes to heart. When Giselle is given a magic wishing wand as a birthday gift for her baby by Edward (James Marsden) and Nancy (Idina Menzel), she decides that there’s only one thing she can do with it: wish for her new neighborhood to be more like her fairy tale roots. But as the neighborhood transforms into a magical kingdom, Giselle begins to transform as well- to fit the wicked stepmother archetype. However, despite her wishes, it may be too late for Giselle to undo what she has done.
Overall, Disenchanted was very enjoyable. Amy Adams shows an amazing proficiency once again at understanding and portraying her characters on-screen, seen as she switches between the innocent and fun-loving Giselle and the more sinister stepmother persona brought on by her wish. She shows the ways that Giselle has grown since Enchanted, but also the ways that her whimsicality stays with her, through her daily songs. Another standout performance was Maya Rudolph as Malvina, the head of the PTA turned evil queen of their suburban kingdom. Rudolph displays a wonderful personality onscreen and is enjoyable to watch, even when her character is supposed to be the villain. Even James Marsden, in his minimal screen time, is insanely enjoyable. There isn’t a single miss in the performances of the cast, and the fact that it is so star-studded is easily forgotten as the viewer is sucked into the story and acting.
Adam Shankman also does a wonderful job directing, with amazing aesthetic choices that drive the fanciful feel of Disenchanted and make the viewer feel immersed in the world of Giselle’s suburbs-turned-kingdom. His direction adds an element to Disenchanted that turns it from just another sequel film to a magical experience that anyone who was a fan of Enchanted will love.
The only true issue with Disenchanted is the songs. While the first few songs in Disenchanted are deliberately less entertaining than the later ones, because they are in the mundane world and not the enchanted world, they still don’t stick out. Even some of the later songs are still unremarkable in comparison to musical arrangements seen in other Disney movies. Only two songs really seem to stick out, and even then, it is only thanks to the fun choreography that comes with magic, or Maya Rudolph and Amy Adams’s performances.
Overall, Disenchanted is a great watch and definitely recommended for anyone who enjoyed Enchanted and wants to continue the story.
3.75/5 Stars
Disenchanted is now streaming on Disney+.
thanks alot of information keren