Movie Review - Tangled

Tangled (2010)

Featuring the voices of Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, and Donna Murphy

Directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard

The marketing for this flick was completely unappealing to me (you're really using a dated Pink song in your trailer, Disney?), so I certainly went into this with no expectations.  Boy, was this flick impressive.  Beautiful to look out, very clever and funny, and great characters made Tangled an enjoyable animated flick -- Disney's best since 1996's Hunchback of Notre Dame (which is a personal favorite of mine despite being labeled as flawed by many).

Tangled is a take on the classic tale of Rapunzel (voiced by singer Mandy Moore), an eighteen-year old teen who has magical hair that is coveted by many since it has healing powers.  As a young baby, Rapunzel (who also happens to be princess) is kidnapped by the elderly Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy) who uses Rapunzel to keep herself youthful.  Rapunzel, however, just wants to leave the tower -- her prison -- and see the world.  One day when thief Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) happens upon Rapunzel's tower while escaping the palace guards after stealing a valuable crown, Rapunzel convinces Flynn to take her out into the world and see what she's been missing.  Things start at shaky for the odd couple, but, as in the case in most Disney princess movies, love is in the cards, although not if Mother Gothel has anything to do with it.

There's no denying that this is a Disney movie.  It certainly doesn't try to hide the stereotypes nor play them for laughs a la Shrek.  Somehow, though, Tangled doesn't feel like a retread at all.  It manages to provide a fresh take on the genre and it does so in a rather brilliantly comic way.  There's nary a pop culture reference (or, thankfully, bodily function joke) in the movie, but it is certainly Disney's funniest flick since the underrated Emperor's New Groove.  Who woulda thunk that kids (and adults) would crack up over basic slapstick humor?

I'm loving this sudden resurgence of characters actually singing songs in Disney movies that started with last year's Princess and the Frog.  Here, the songs rather effortlessly flow and fit right into the story.  While they're not necessarily entirely memorable, they all are successful in their own way.  In particular, the "villain song" (which always carries anticipatory excitement whenever I watch a Disney flick) -- "Mother Knows Best" --  is a success.  There's a kind of vigor in Alan Menken's music, Glenn Slater's lyrics, and Donna Murphy's snide vocalizing that are very reminiscent of Ursula's "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from The Little Mermaid.  While it doesn't quite reach the levels of that Menken classic (and the best "villain song" from the Disney canon), "Mother Knows Best" is indeed a success.  The other songs aren't quite up to that caliber, but there isn't a bad apple in the bunch.

As mentioned, it's partly Donna Murphy's vocals that make the villain song a success and Murphy is joined by equally impressive vocal turns from Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi.  Together, this trio provides some of the best voice acting in a Disney flick in years (not to mention that all three are darn good singers).  The wit and humor that they bring to the clever script is a definite plus.  Add to this taleneted group two of the best (and funniest and non-cloying) animal sidekicks we've seen in years and every single character onscreen is a refreshing well-developed treat.

I happened to see Tangled twice on its opening day and I'm incredibly happy to say that the film actually played better the second time around.  Little nuances shined through and the story actually felt like it had a nearly flawless flow on the second watch (maybe it was just the refreshing nap I took before the repeat viewing).  This, to me, is a return to classic form for Disney.  From the music to the animation (which I didn't even discuss, but is rather beautiful, lush, and gorgeous), Tangled is top notch Disney and proves the Mouse House can be a leader in animation and not play second fiddle to Pixar.  I'll even go out on a limb and say that Tangled is better than Toy Story 3 which, although it packed a mighty emotional wallop at its conclusion, dragged on a bit too much for my liking.  Completely unexpected and, for this Disney nut, hopefully a resurgence for Disney animation.

The RyMickey Rating:  A-