Tangled
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Zachary Levi, Mandy Moore, Donna Murphy
Director: Nathan Greno
It's Disney's 50th animated film.
And to celebrate, they're rolling out an animated version of Rapunzel for 2011.
Mandy Moore stars as the erstwhile long haired princess Rapunzel, who's trapped in the tower by the evil Gothel (Murphy). You see, Gothel knows that Rapunzel's hair has the power to turn back time and make people young again - and in true evil, godmother fashion she wants to keep that power all for her own.
However, as Rapunzel reaches her 18th birthday, she decides what she wants to do to celebrate is to leave the tower and see the lights which appear every year without fail on her birthday. (Unbeknownst to her, those lights are floating lanterns, launched by her parents as they try to find her.)
Gothel says no - but Rapunzel (and her pet chameleon Pascal) finds her life changed by the arrival of thief Flynn Rider (Chuck's Zachary Levi) who is looking for a hideout.
Flynn is coerced into helping - and together, the duo set off into the kingdom&
Tangled is a good ole fashioned Disney film - with songs within minutes of opening (complete with catchy lyrics such as 'Don't risk the drama, stay with Mama' and 'I could be called deadly from my killer show medley') it's clearly aimed at provoking a bit of nostalgia within the audience.
But there's a sharp deftness to the script which sees it veer from being a little too old fashioned - and it's enlivened by great performances from Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore who give their characters a real boost from their subtle vocal tones.
There's also good old fashioned Disney fun to be had from the animals of the piece; the chameleon and a horse from the palace guards known as Maximus. Neither says anything but again, it's their antics which will amuse the kids both young and old.
There's also unexpected moments of adult humour dotted throughout - such as when Rapunzel leaves the tower for the first time, she veers between deep joy and numbing guilt - it's fun touches like this which add to the overall feel.
It's no crime to say Tangled is nothing spectacularly new on the story front or when it comes to the songs- but thanks to a warmth and engaging charm as well as some good solid animation, it's a great family time out at the cinema.
