If you’re looking for a good movie suitable for the entire family this Thanksgiving weekend, forget “Harry.” Go with hairy! Walt Disney’s “Tangled” celebrates hirsutism in an animated musical-comedy adaptation of the classic fairy tale “Rapunzel.” It’s as light and easy as “Potter 7” is dark and involved. Today’s offering harkens back to those traditional-style, Disney cartoon features of the 1980s and ’90s with its sassy heroine, hilarious animal sidekicks, and sparkling fantasy spectacle.
The royal-blooded Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) fits right into the studio’s princess pantheon. And the sound track’s composer Alan Menken was also the Oscar-winning mastermind behind “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” and others of that ilk. Alas, in collaborating with lesser co-lyricist Glenn Slater, “Tangled’s” score isn’t Menken’s best. Its boilerplate show tunes punctuate the narrative nicely but aren’t essential enough to endure beyond the movie.
Luckily, directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, with screenwriter Dan Fogelman, have found good balance among the music, romance and farce elements here. Plus, you just can’t beat a timeless story.
| IF YOU GO |
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‘Tangled’ 3 out of 5 Stars |
| » Voice Stars: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy |
| » Directors: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard |
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| Rated PG for brief mild violence |
| » Running time: 101 minutes |
In this version, infused with the sun’s magical healing power, Rapunzel is born to the king and queen of an idealized medieval-ish realm. The infant’s special gift is contained in her ever-growing golden tresses, so a vain crone steals her away from her crib. Played by two-time Tony-winning diva Donna Murphy (known for her tour de force in Stephen Sondheim’s “Passion”), swarthy Mother Gothel presents herself to Rapunzel as a benevolent parent who has stashed her up in a high tower for her own protection. But really, Gothel covets the eternal youth imparted by the girl’s freakishly long mane.
A rogue on the run, Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi of NBC’s “Chuck”), discovers the tower one day. And before you can say, “let down your hair,” the bickering young couple is on an adventure to free her.
Without resorting to human speech, thanks to a brilliant animation team, Rapunzel’s savvy pet chameleon Pascal and Flynn’s horse nemesis Maximus (part cuddly bloodhound, part belligerent neurotic) steal the movie. The effects and design team further enhances the production with beautiful panoramas of candlelight and color.
Unfortunately, “Tangled”‘s warped/retro subtext is: Straight blond hair equals good; kinky black hair equals evil; and, it takes a dude to liberate a girl. But if you can get past that, the entertainment is sweet like the marshmallows on your yams.
