Disenchanted is a highly anticipated sequel to the 2007 Disney musical movie that revolves around Giselle, a trueborn Andalasian, who finds it difficult to adjust to her not-so-magical universe. The film follows her making a terrible wish, that collides the two completely different worlds. It stars Amy Adams (Arrival, The Master) in the titular role, and is directed by Adam Shankman.
The complete cast of the film includes Patrick Dempsey as Robert Philip, James Marsden as King Edward, Idina Menzel as Nancy Tremaine, Maya Rudolph as Malvina Monroe, Gabriella Baldacchino as Morgan Philip, Yvette Nicole Brown as Rosaleen, Jayma Mays as Ruby, Kolton Stewart as Tyson Monroe and Oscar Nunez as Edgar. The fantasy drama is edited by Chris Lebenzon, while Simon Duggan serves as the cinematographer. Moreover, the film is written by Brigitte Hales.
-Disenchanted Review Does Not Contain Spoilers-
The high-spirited sequel starts with our favourite talking chipmunk reciting a tale of happily ever after to his kids, which includes the story of Giselle (played by Amy Adams), and his new life in New York City with Robert and his daughter Morgan.
Giselle, who was once close to becoming the princess of Andalasia, has now moved into another town, that resembles her homeland in shape and size. However, her stepdaughter Morgan, finds it difficult to remodel her new life and ends up blaming Giselle for the chaotic shuffle.
The former resident of the magic world decides to restore the happiness in her family and implements the Andalasian Wand (yes, that’s a thing) to make an unintentional evil wish. What happens next, is a feel-good tale of emotions and magic, that trembles too often to find the right balance.
Finally, we have a Disney film which acknowledges that not everything needs to be sung (even if it’s a plot device). The two-hour drama is much fun and exciting in the first half, until the euphoria of watching our beloved characters after 15 years, fades away completely. After that, it just goes on to become another repetitive musical, carried solely by the convincing performance of Amy Adams.
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I have no doubt that Adams is one of the most versatile actresses of our generation, who can dawn any role with utmost sincerity. The sheer brilliance in her portrayal of Giselle, makes you want to rewatch movies like American Hustle or Nocturnal Animals. The entire setup of believability rests on her shoulders and gets strength from her elaborative expression.
However, it’s quite clear that Disenchanted doesn’t come anyway near to the innocence of its predecessor. And fails to recreate the magic of Andalasia once again. In fact, the only time when you will connect with the feature is during some easter eggs or nostalgic references. Rest assured, there are some musical numbers in the sequel, which might make you skip a beat or two.
Disenchanted Final Thoughts
If you believe that a talking chipmunk turning into an evil cat is something hilarious, then you should watch this new live-action film. Otherwise, spare yourself from an overload of magic and memories.
You can watch the movie on Disney Plus Hotstar. Let us know your thoughts about it in the comment section below.
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