 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Enchanted
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Adorable fairy tale is a fabulous family flick.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this mostly live-action Disney fairy tale will appeal to kids -- even very young ones -- who have seen the many trailers and TV ads. Like most Disney flicks, the romance is chaste (a few kisses), the violence is mild (though the climactic battle with a dragon at the end could scare some sensitive little ones), and the language isn't an issue. That said, there are quite a few product placements (not to mention the tie-ins to the whole Disney Princess juggernaut) and one scene of a character getting drunk at a bar.
What's the story?
Narrated by the inimitable Julie Andrews, ENCHANTED starts out as a formulaic animated flick about Giselle (Amy Adams), a damsel in fair Andalasia who's waiting for her one and only to sweep her off her feet. But it quickly turns into an unconventional fish-out-of-water romantic comedy with infectious musical numbers. Giselle's true love, Prince Edward (James Marsden), has a stereotypical witch of a stepmother (Susan Sarandon) who'd rather dispatch Giselle to a land where no one is happy for too long (aka New York City) than deal with her usurping the throne. But what Giselle discovers in Manhattan is that there's a little magic everywhere, mostly in the form of Robert (Patrick Dempsey), the single-father divorce attorney who takes Giselle in to please his 6-year-old daughter (Rachel Covey). Naturally, Edward finds his way to Giselle -- partially thanks to the "magic mirror" of a motel television -- but by that point no one in the audience will be rooting for them to hook up back in Andalasia.
Is it any good?
ENCHANTED is a spectacularly sweet film that proves even dashing princes aren't a match for damaged single fathers. Amy Adams is charming and lovely and obviously destined to be a leading lady. As she beckons rats, pigeons, and bugs to clean Robert's Upper West Side pad, it's clear she has the sparkle to make her guileless character enchanting instead of annoying.
It's refreshing to see Disney poke a little fun at its classic fairy tales with scenes like that one; even kids who can't recognize all of the movie's various princess archetypes and tongue-in-cheek jokes will fall for this winning love story -- as will their parents.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what made kids want to see this movie -- the story or the advertising and Disney Princess marketing?
Why are Disney Princess products so popular?
Families can also discuss how this movie fits into the fairy tale genre. What other stories does it make references to?
How is the story different from other princess movies? Kids: Do you think Giselle made the right decision?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Topics of Divorce and Committment poorly handled
Well, it was entertaining enough for the adults, but I think there are some topics and scenes which are too much for young kids. Here's what the reviews don't prepare you for: 1) the topic of divorce and, 2) why it's "ok" to leave someone you're with for someone else. On #1: For some young kids, divorce is a tragedy they are not ready to be introduced to (if they are fortunate enough to not have experienced it firsthand). In the story, the mom "just left" her husband and daughter. That can instill a lot of fear and worry into young kids. "Why did her mom just go?" or "Didn't she love them anymore?" "Will my mom/dad ever just go?" Also, why someone's job might be to help mom's and dad's split up (as opposed to help reconcile) is all tough. On #2, Giselle, who has found true love and is to marry her prince, drops him for Robert (in a rather sensually charged scene where she runs her fingers over his chest and plays with his chest hair). That one is easier to explain (i.e. she didn't really know the prince). Hard to explain, is Robert's actions. After 5 years, he ditches his girlfriend for Giselle. "How can he like her when he already has a girlfirend?" It makes "true love" seem like a very fickle thing; driven by feelings and emotions. Granted, you can't do these topics justice in 107 minutes, but that doesn't mean you can dismiss them and conveniently sweep them under the carpet either.
Oh, one more thing: the scene at the end with the dragon is indeed REALLY scary for the little ones. For my 6 year-old, it soured the whole movie. As soon as the movie was over, she got up and turned the TV off (before the credits rolled).
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AGE
Cute and Charming Family Flick with Mild Content
ENCHANTED is the story of what happens when animated fairy tale and real-life NYC meet. One would expect it to be ugly, but Disney handles it with such wit and charm that makes it irresistable.
The funniest and most amusing part of the film is Princess Giselle, played to hilarious brilliance by Amy Adams. When Giselle pops out into our world, she is shocked by modern faucets, electrical lights, and divorces. She handles the latter with charm and ends up bringing a troubled couple back together with her Princess views of love. Adams is made for this role, playing Giselle like a giddy, naive child, scared of the change but embracing and anticipating of the possibilities.
There is some mild innuendo and suggestive humor. Robert, the hero, walks into the bathroom just as Giselle is stepping out of the shower (he, and the audience, see nothing, as birds enter with a towel for a timely covering). Also, during one part, a young child tells Giselle (no doubt mimicking what she's heard on the street or elsewhere) that when boys see girls with a lot of make-up on their minds are centered on one thing only. When Giselle asks what, the girl replies "I don't know. No one ever tells me". Positive behavior pervades the film discouraging things like giving up and divorcing, and encouraging repentance, commitment, and true love. Highly reccomended!
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AGE
A twist on all princesse movies!
I saw this movie with my mom. It was awseome!! I want to see it again with my friends. Age rate:6+
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AGE
Cute family flick is a tad sexually aware, but fine for kids 6+
Sexual Content (Pause): True love's kiss plays a key role in the plot. Giselle is seen getting out of the shower (no nudity shown) and ends up falling on Robert in an inadvertently sexual position. She also shows varying amounts of cleavage throughout the movie, as do other female characters. Some mild sexually-oriented jokes and innuendo.
Violence (Pause): Giselle is poisoned. Swords are wielded about frequently. The opening sequence with a large troll and the ending sequence with the queen turning into a huge dragon may frighten younger children. Some slapstick.
Language (Not an Issue): None.
Social Behavior (On): True love and dreams coming true are major themes of the film. Giselle is optimistic and overtly kind, and while she is initially looked down upon at first for her "strange" behavior, the people of NYC come to appreciate her.
Commercialism (Pause): Seeing as this story takes place in the Big Apple, expect lots of product placement.
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco (Pause): Giselle is served an apple martini (she almost drinks it, but Pip stops her from doing so).
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AGE
This is not for young children
I admit CS reviewed this for ages 6+ but I took my five year old and she asked to go home as soon as the action changed from animation to live action. It was way too intense and scary. Also, in the first 15-20 minutes (all I saw before leaving), Giselle's crown was stolen by a homeless man and there was a very growup scene of two adults shouting at each other in a divorce hearing -- all of it too overwhelming for my daughter. It is probably a great movie for older kids (the beginning was really fun to watch, with lots of inside jokes and Disney sendups) but I think even 6 is too young for some of the more mature topics...but then I can't comment on anything more than the beginning!
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AGE
Delightful and in good taste
My wife and I took our two girls, three and eight. All of us enjoyed it. It's a typical storybook romance with updated humor and issues that don't leave you wishing the kids "didn't hear that one." The actors are very suited for their characters and do a wonderful job of bringing a princess' story into todays reality of broken homes, separation, and divorce. At times I even wondered, "yeah why do people decide to leave each other instead of working it out?" I would watch it again.
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AGE
Ideal for tweens and older girls, great mom movie
Sweet, adorable movie best suited for older girls (8/9+) and parents. Typical Disney fairy-tale sort of thing, with lots of adult themes. Dempsey is the dashing handsome reluctant hero, and Adams is sugary sweet princess in need.
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AGE
OK for kids' ages 5+
School Age Child Care at my elementary school watched this movie. However, there are some iffy scenes like Giselle falls down and transports from cartoon to real life under a sewer, then goes to New York City, crazy animals in her apartment trying to clean her apartment up looking pretty strange, and she is wrapped around a towel getting out of a shower when she told someone to come in.
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AGE
Great for all ages!!!!!
AMAZING. As you can see, I'm a teen and still love this movie. Some dating jokes that will go over kids heads but that parents will laugh at. Firebreathing dragon at the end, but it is a Disney fairytale, so you can kind of expect that. Overall a wonderfull family film!
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AGE
Good movie
This movie is the best movie I have ever seen!
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, princesses and fairies, music and sing-along |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Kevin Lima |
| Cast: | Amy Adams, James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 107 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 21, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | March 17, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some scary images and mild innuendo. |
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