Just because “Tangled” is an animated Disney remake of the classic tale of Rapunzel does not mean college students should skip it. “Tangled” is actually a quite well-executed film combining romance, comedy and music that anyone would enjoy.
The film is actually a slight twist on the beloved fairy tale. Rapunzel’s hair has magical healing powers that she got from a potion her mother drank during her birth. The problem is, the flower had already been discovered and cared for by an old woman, Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy), who was using it to hold on to her youth. To maintain her looks, Gothel steals the baby and uses the girl’s powers to rejuvenate herself. She keeps the girl locked up away in a tower for 18 years, feeding her lies about how the world is full of wicked people so she must stay locked up.
The story really begins when we are introduced to the other protagonist, a thief named Flynn (Zachary Levi), who happens upon the tower after stealing the royal crown. Lucky for Flynn, Mother Gothel isn’t home, but when he climbs the tower, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) knocks him out and hides him in her closet. We eventually discover that her only desire for her 18th birthday is to see the annual release of flying lanterns (she doesn’t know that the lanterns are in fact released to commemorate her), and Flynn, rather reluctantly, agrees to take her.
The story then unfolds at a brisk pace filled with outstanding animation and memorable characters. One of these characters includes Rapunzel’s loving pet sidekick, a chameleon named Pascal. He’s matched by the instantly loveable horse Maximus, who belongs to the head of the palace guard. The film is also noteworthy because of the depth these characters actually have. Flynn and Rapunzel aren’t your stereotypical prince and damsel-in-distress characters. They develop throughout the play, especially Flynn, who turns from a vain, sarcastic and self-loving thief to a more caring (but still quite sarcastic) man who puts others before himself.
The directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard (“Lilo & Stitch,” “Bolt”) ought to be commended for their outstanding casting choices. Moore gives her hopeful character just the right amount of spunk, while Murphy pulls off her evil character’s often sardonic lines splendidly. The best choice, however, was definitely Levi as the voice of Flynn. The audience will know him as adorable Chuck on the hit NBC show of the same name; Levi brings the same sarcasm and goofiness that he does on that show to his character here. Other welcome cameos include Jeffrey Tambor and Brad Garrett as village ruffians who become enchanted with Rapunzel’s positive and hopeful outlook.
The music is also quite enjoyable. Composed by Disney’s go-to music guy Alan Menken, it is comparable to some of his best and well-known hits from films like “Beauty and the Beast.”
“Tangled” will definitely have a spot at this year’s Oscars for best animated feature. It is a film not to be missed, no matter what age group you are in, and is one of the funniest and most charming animated films you will see all year.