Enchanted (PG, 2007)
common sense media says
Adorable fairy tale is a fabulous family flick.
parents & educators say
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.
Positive role models:
Despite Giselle's differences, her enthusiasm and positive outlook are ultimately appreciated.
Violence & scariness:
A wicked witch tries to poison Giselle; Edward wields his sword against a troll and out and about in New York City (no one is hurt). Nathaniel takes out his frustrations on Pip, mostly to humorous effect. The queen transforms into a big, threatening dragon and tries to kill Giselle and Robert (after doing her best to do Giselle in via other means).
Sexy stuff:
A few kisses, including "true love's kiss," and a scene of Giselle modestly coming out of the shower and getting wrapped in a towel. She also flirts/dances with Robert. Some dating/relationship innuendo that will go over kids' head.
Language:
Not applicable.
Consumerism:
Coke, I Love NY souvenir items, Mac laptop, Blackberry PDAs, Vipp traschan, Calypso, Prada, Elie Tahari, etc. (Giselle indulges in some prime retail therapy at one point). Plus, lots of tie-ins to the Disney Princess marketing machine.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Giselle is served an apple martini but doesn't drink it. A character gets sloshed at a bar.
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Most useful reviews by all members
dnpseattle
parent of 4 and 6 year old
parent of 4 and 6 year old
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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actress9
kid, 13 years old
kid, 13 years old
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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Tsion
parent of 15 year old
parent of 15 year old
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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DexterSmith
adult
adult
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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cathyt
adult
adult
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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TWIHARD12
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
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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MarioMii
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
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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CountryMom27
parent of 5 and 7 year old
parent of 5 and 7 year old
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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mnmwagoner
parent of 7 and 11 year old
parent of 7 and 11 year old
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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Fangbite91
kid, 11 years old
kid, 11 years old
Too much kissing Yuck!!!!!!!!!
I don't even want to talk about this dumb movie.
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gk
adult
adult
Delightful for both young and old
My 5 yr old loved the movie. More importantly I loved the movie and so did my husband. You will fall inlove with Giselle. She is the perfect fairytale princess brought into this crazy jaded world we now live in. I enjoyed her very much and hated to leave her behind.
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Sarah Grace
adult
adult
Unclear ending
It was okay, pretty funny at some parts. The only issue was at the end it wasn't clear if Gisele and Robert were married or just living together. Not a very good message, especially for teenagers....
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dawnintahoe
adult
adult
Very enchanting
I am a strick Christian parent with a high regard for what my children put in their brains. The story was well written. A concerns for my 5 year old was that she was quite frightened by the step mother (villian). So know your child and if they are frightened of scary characters you might want to rethink this movie. Also, after the movie went from cartoon to the real world, it becomes perilous and sad for the princess as she is lost and alone, my daughter told me she didn't like this movie and wanted to leave. We hung in there and she ended up enjoying it, especially the prince and the chipmonk who were two delightful and hilarious characters. My 9 year old loved it. The only questionable part was when the princess begins becoming attracted to the earthly man, and while he is in his bathrobe, she strokes his chest hair. You can tell she is hot for him. Also, he walks in on the princess in the bathroom while she is in the shower and although we can't see any nudity it is made known that he has seen her naked and his reaction is questionable. AFter all of this, he sits on his bed and apparently needs to cool down. Those were instances when I have to wonder "Whey did they have to put THAT in the movie?" All in all, a wonderful movie, well done and a treat for the whole family.
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MovieFan777
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
A Twist On Classic Disney!
This is one of the greatest Disney films ever! The family will love this modern classic, and you will have fun spotting the many references in the film to other Disney films, including some non-Disney films. Amy Adams is just brilliant in her role as Giselle, and you will just love how her character turns are dirty and unhappy real world into a fun and magical place to be. Also, you love some of the stereotypical fairytale roles that are used to make some hilarious jokes, the best being Adams singing cockroaches, pigeons, and rats to help clean a filthy apartment. This is just a can't miss family film!
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mychza
adult
adult
New Favorite Fairy Tale!
My kids are very young (under 5) and they both loved it. They did not understand any of the more adult things or the alcohol reference although some older kids might. The fighting with the dragon was a little scary for them, but we held their hands and watched it together and they were excited when the "mean lady" was gone. Someone else made a comment about the divorce people fighting being inappropriate, but later they make up which shows kids to work out their problems rather than give up. Also, in response to the comment that Giselle is inappropriate because the story promotes the "love the one you're with" idea, that is not the point at all. Giselle just met Edward and was set to marry him after a day when they had never spoken or spent any time together. The movie spoke more about not rushing into things and taking time to get to know the person before you marry them and about following your dreams.
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chocolateluvr13
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Good movie
This movie is the best movie I have ever seen!
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fletchy
adult
adult
Expected corny but wonderful just the same!
It has all the Disney elements: romance, song, hokey-animal heroes and of course, a villain, a prince (not the obvious one) and a princess. It WAS rather corny (breaking out in song in Central Park), but it was so well-intentioned, it's easy to go right along with it. Even my husband enjoyed it and I thought, at the end, he was going to tell me how bad it was but he thought it was really cute. And for us Moms, it's so easy to watch Dr. McDreamy and Prince Edward!! LOL. Anyway, the audience actually clapped when it ended (and we just went to see it on Dec. 29--6 weeks after it opened). We'll probably be buying it on DVD when it comes out. Worth it!
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CocoBiscotti3600
kid, 11 years old
kid, 11 years old
This Century's Snow White
Enchanted is just another one of those family movies, the type of thing that's been done to death. It's like this century's version of the 1938 film.
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AmyPond123
kid, 11 years old
kid, 11 years old
Great movie!
I love it!
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CrazyBlu4Eva
kid, 10 years old
kid, 10 years old
I'm enchanted!
This movie really made my day!Giselle at first a cartoon character suddenly turning into a real life person.A very interesting movie that'll make your kids hooked.
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