Once upon a time, Disney Animation Studios were considered the masters of animated film. What they did with cell animation was breathtaking to behold, and the stories they wrapped around that animation were as compelling and bold as any motion picture being released at that time. Slowly, cell animation gave way to CGI, and Pixar rose as the masters of this new style. Disney Animation Studios tried to keep up, releasing "Meet the Robinsons" (2007) and "Bolt" (2008), which were made when Disney and Pixar were "on the outs". Sadly, these films didn't live up to the quality that came out of Pixar, nor did they live up to the quality expected of Disney Animation Studios. Fast forward two years, and Disney once again dips their toes in the CGI animation pool, this time with much more success.
This is, as all the best Disney films are, a retelling of a fairy tale; Rapunzel. In this particular retelling, Rapunzel is the kidnapped daughter of the King and Queen of the kingdom, and is trapped in a secluded tower by the woman she thinks of as her mother, an old witch named Mother Gothel. Rapunzel has magic hair, which heals and rejuvenates anyone who touches it when she sings. Mother Gothel uses this to keep herself forever young, and convinces Rapunzel that to leave the tower is certain death, as the world is full of "thieves and murderers". This, of course, does nothing to dissuade Rapunzel, who wishes on her eighteenth birthday to see the "lights in the sky" that fill the night on each of her birthdays. With the introduction of the thief, Flynn Ryder, who is running from the kingdom, his partners in crime, and a very cunning horse, Rapunzel sees a way to finally escape her tower. Needless to say, Flynn Ryder and Rapunzel's adventures begin from there.
The movie takes some time to build up steam, as the first few songs (yes, songs make their triumphant return, and to great effect) and minutes of the film seem to stammer along, but once Flynn Ryder is introduced, the action picks up, as does the storytelling. As usual, Disney changes large portions of the fairy tale, but in this instance, it's actually for the better, as the story is more about finding one's self and allowing yourself to rely on others than it is about a girl with really long hair. The music is for the most part great, drives forward the narrative, and in one particular instance (the scene on the lake) will actually bring tears to your eyes. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the animals in the film, which like the best Disney side characters, are hilarious and don't at all detract from the story.
Mandy Moore voices Rapunzel, and does a wonderful job of it. You can hear the sense of wonder in her voice as she discovers the world around her, and also the dread of breaking her mother's heart at having left the tower. Emotional resonance through vocal inflection is incredibly important in these types of pictures, and of all the actors, Mandy seems to understand that the best. This is to take nothing away from
Zachary Levi, who is more known for his role in television's "Chuck" as the geek turned spy, than the talented voice actor he is, as he plays Flynn Ryder with gusto, doubling as both the aforementioned character and the narrator of the movie. He's funny, dynamic, and the perfect vocal foil to Mandy Moore's youthful exuberance. The only failing in the voice acting actually falls on
Donna Murphy, who plays Rapunzel's captor, Mother Gothel. Rather than trying to create a character of her own, she seems to instead emulate Pat Carroll's "Ursula" from "The Little Mermaid", and while she does so with zeal, it makes the character seem less original and more a carbon copy than anything else. Otherwise, this is a fantastic voice cast, down to the assorted extras (notably
Brad Garrett,
Jeffrey Tambor, and
Ron Perlman), and they all breathe life into the fantasy land they inhabit.
One of the things that made Disney so good at what they did was the breathtaking way in which they presented the worlds they created. Beast's castle in "Beauty and the Beast", the gorgeous ocean in "The Little Mermaid", and most spectacularly the desert world of "Aladdin" all were amazing achievements, and left you in awe at what was accomplished. For the first time in years, Disney does this again with "Tangled". There isn't a single scene that isn't filled with the little touches that have made Disney's animation the most respected in the world, and you can feel the love the creators had for their creation. The water effects in particular are stunning, with a sequence featuring a dam breaking down causing goosebumps it is so well done. This is a triumph, and for once Disney Animation Studios has matched their "little brother" in Pixar in CG-animation. Even if the movie itself was not great, it would be worth it to see just what Disney has done here.
The most important aspect of a Disney film is one that many people forget; will parents be as enthralled with the world, the story, and the characters as their children are. One of the reasons Disney has been so successful in the past is that parents of all ages grew up with these pictures, and passed them onto their kids. With each release, Disney could count on parents who grew up with "Cinderella" to bring their children to see "The Little Mermaid". Parents who loved "Bambi" as children brought their own to see "The Lion King". Seeing a Disney film with your child was almost as important a step in life as teaching them to read, or getting them ready for their first day of school. It was a moment the parent could share with their child that they themselves experienced with their own parents, and it was special. Up until now, Pixar has become the Disney subsidiary that creates those moments, but they are not as profound as seeing a fairy tale you once loved brought to life by animators who cared about every hair on every head. For the first time since "The Lion King", Disney Animation has created a film that truly feels like something special. You'll laugh, you'll tear up, and you'll believe in the magic of Disney.
Pixar finally has a challenger to the throne, and while this isn't quite up to the level of "WALL-E" or "Up", which I consider to be Pixar's masterworks, it can certainly sit on the same shelf as the Disney classics that we grew up loving, and not at all seem out of place.
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