Enchanted

Enchanted arrives as an animated adventure directed by Kevin Lima, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Amy Adams and Susan Sarandon give Enchanted a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Enchanted comes into focus without a long explanation: A young maiden in a land called Andalasia, who is prepared to be wed, is sent away to New York City by an evil Queen, where she falls in love with a lawyer. Across its 1h 47m running time, Kevin Lima keeps Enchanted careful about tone and generally effective.

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Enchanted gains much of its identity from expressive movement, a choice that makes the world readable as well as attractive. The contribution of Walt Disney Pictures allows Enchanted to combine expressive movement with a consistent visual language. Within its United States setting, Enchanted makes particularly good use of precise visual timing when the story needs to change scale. Sound and editing preserve the personality of Enchanted by supporting detail instead of announcing every intended response.

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Enchanted uses its animated adventure framework to consider identity and the courage required to grow beyond familiar expectations. For the character played by Amy Adams, that idea gives Enchanted stakes beyond the next immediate obstacle. The recurring pressure of New York City prevents the theme in Enchanted from feeling like decoration added after the story. Kevin Lima makes Enchanted more thoughtful whenever the implications remain inside action and reaction.

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Rather than summarise every event in Enchanted, it is enough to note how Andalasia places New York City under growing pressure. Amy Adams gives that tension a face, which stops Enchanted from becoming a mechanical sequence of developments. Bill Kelly uses Queen to widen the stakes of Enchanted without losing sight of the original problem. Where the central character becomes predictable, Enchanted recovers interest through the consequences surrounding it.

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The acting in Enchanted is anchored by Amy Adams, who treats even functional scenes as opportunities to reveal character. Susan Sarandon answers that approach with a different energy, giving Enchanted welcome friction whenever the pace begins to settle. Around them, James Marsden helps Enchanted feel like an ensemble piece rather than a vehicle with decorative support. Under Kevin Lima, the performances in Enchanted share a tone even when the writing gives them unequal depth.

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As director of Enchanted, Kevin Lima proves careful about tone and generally effective in the transitions between intimate material and larger demands. A strong scene in Enchanted often begins with a modest detail before Kevin Lima lets its meaning expand. For Enchanted, the film delivers more often than it misses because the central tone remains visible even during busy passages. The weakness in Enchanted is that the middle loses a little urgency, although Kevin Lima usually finds the original rhythm again.

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For animation fans who value character as much as visual invention, Enchanted is ultimately a likeable film whose strengths survive its limitations. Its most persuasive combination in Enchanted brings Amy Adams together with precise visual timing under the direction of Kevin Lima. The fact that the middle loses a little urgency prevents Enchanted from being entirely seamless. Even with that reservation, Enchanted has a clear point of view and enough genuine feeling to justify the journey.