Tangled
Northlands Hoyts, 01/02/2011
Movie #7 for 2011
I know, I know, I know: it’s a Disney musical about Rupunzel. My expectations, it’s safe to say, were low. But it was 40 degrees with a northerly blowing and I just needed to be air-conditioned. (And, to be honest, I’d forgotten there would be songs – the last bunch of animated films I saw were manga, Pixar and French hand drawn stuff, so I pretty much forgot there could be songs.)
The beginning of Tangled had me fearing the worst – the first two songs in particular are very, very average. But then, much to my surprise, it found its groove and I found I was enjoying myself… quite a bit more than a decorous amount.
Tangled really hits its stride when the creators start to thoroughly embrace and exploit the animated format – the action sequences are wonderful and the comedy completely over the top and delightfully slapstick. On top of that, the writing is funny, the animation superb, the direction inventive, the voice acting terrific, the remaining (mercifully few) songs are lively and the pace is energetic. It’s a shame about the first songs, but the rest of the film more than makes up for them.
Four stars for a Disney movie? Shut up, I know.
