I'm enchanted.....for the most part

I thought I'd take the opportunity to provide some circumlocution in honor or the recent release of "Enchanted." The film obviously did rather well so I'm not writing to sell you on it. The Disney marketing team working on the film and general word of mouth has done plenty well. Instead, I think I'll comment on the things in the film or related to the film that I felt were odd. Lest we not be confused, I love the film and was amongst the group of pathetic people who picked the DVD up on the day of its release because we knew (and planned) for that day. I don't think anyone could quite say enough to homage the technique of the film and the fact that it is, in itself, a peon to Disney animated films.

Nonetheless, it is a tease. A T-E-A-S-E. The characters in the film are fantastic. I simply cannot argue with a film that stars James Marsden simply because I get to stare at James Marsden for two hours that don't require excuse! But Idina Menzel!!! Seriously??? I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was when I saw her appear on screen in a movie that featured a good amount of singing. Throughout the entire film I waited and waited and waited and waited for Idina to belt it out (as we all know she can---RENT, Wicked). I even waited through the end of the credits. I waited through the months to the DVD release thinking maybe, just maybe, she'd had a song that had to get cut in the movie but it will be in the DVD extras. I waited and waited. Then I waited some more. And NOTHING!! What??? How can you do that? If you put Idina Menzel in a movie that has singing, then she must sing. It's just the rules. I don't make them up. And, apparently, you don't follow them.

Here are more rules of Hollywood. When you are Oscar-nominated, you are well known. Again, "Enchanted" and its cast have not followed those rules. Amy Adams is a great actress. "Enchanted" attests to that but not as much as the film for which she received an Oscar nomination, "Junebug." In the drama, Adams plays an innocent and somewhat annoying pregnant woman who battles with her husband in more ways than one. The portrayal was brilliant and rightfully deserved an Oscar nod, if not the actual award. She appeared in another movie that was Oscar-stacked. "Catch Me if You Can"--remember that? Remember when Leo's character nearly marries the sweet, Southern belle? Guess who that belle was. (Why does no one outside of the entertainment business remember this?) Yet, Amy Adams somehow remained under the radar......until.....until...."Enchanted," which is now considered her big break. Now she's on magazine covers, carrying other movies with her name. It cracks me up.



Other things about "Enchanted"

1. I hate Susan Sarandon's need to employ her tongue in the role of the evil step-mother.
2. Pip doesn't need to poop when he gets frightened.
3. James Marsden, sigh.
4. Pip's game of charades coupled with James Marsden's reactions are the best thing about the entire movie.
5. Thank God for the use of traditional animation.