Tangled

It’s now time to look at Disney’s take on the Rapunzel story, “Tangled,” released in 2010. For this to be Disney’s 50^th animated film, the Disney animators have taken a lot of risks and tried everything to be everyone’s favorite animated company. There have been some obstacles down the road, but at the end of the tunnel they are successful.

Whether you like inspiring adventure or sentimental romance, traditional fairy tales or stories of modern families, musicals, or comedies, even blondes or brunettes, “Tangled” has something for you. Using so many animation standards has its risks, but once “Tangled” settles in and accepts the important appeal of its better nature the rewards are evident.

Since this is directed by Nathan Greno and “Bolt” co-director Bryon Howard, one of those rewards is a beautiful computer-animated visual that includes rich landscapes and characters that look fuller and more lifelike than before in the past.

Kenneth Turan stated in his review, “"Tangled" can be forgiven if it takes some time to find its footing. It is after all a story of a lost princess that does a lot to appeal to boys, a retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale that (in this country at least) decided it was wiser to avoid the name itself, and a movie with five Alan Menken songs that doesn't call itself a musical.”

The first shakiness is improved by the annoying and overly convincing nature of co-protagonist Flynn Rider, voiced by Zachary Levi, a Satan-may-care bandit who is introduced saying more smart remarks than a regular at a Comedy Club. Like someone in a “Shrek” sequel, Flynn calls Rapunzel “blondie” and says “I don’t do back story” when asked about his past.

This comment aside, it is Flynn who tells us on Rapunzel’s history. She was the daughter of a king and queen (really!), she was stolen as an infant and raised by a tricky woman named Mother Gothel, voiced by theater actress Donna Murphy, who keeps her oblivious about her biological parents and locks her up in a tower because contact with Rapunzel’s magical hair keeps rejuvenating Mother Gothel.

Turan commented, “As envisioned by Disney hair technicians Xinmin Zhao and Kelly Ward (who devoted 10 years of her life and a PhD thesis to pondering how to computer animate hair), that mane is quite the force of nature, 70 feet long and capable of many things, including tying people up and batting them down.”

Rapunzel, voiced by Delaney Rose Stein as a little child, it should be underlined, is hardly clear by her hair. As voiced as an adult by former idol for teenagers Mandy Moore, this is a very modern young woman, going to become 18 and, with only a chameleon named Pascal as her friend, is really anxious to get out of the tower and see the outside world.

What Rapunzel is really eager to see in front of her are a group of floating lanterns lighting up the sky that she’s only seen from a far away distance. It’s the one gift she wants for her 18^th birthday, but for Mother Gothel anything that makes Rapunzel leave the tower is a non-starter.

A guilt-tripping, overprotective, extremely scheming parent who looks like a spawn of Satan, Mother Gothel is given lines like, “skip the drama, stay with momma.” Though she only says this to sugarcoat her cruelty, Mother Gothel demands in a fragile moment, “You’re not leaving this tower, ever.”

However, she’s got nothing to worry about. As Flynn comes riding in on the scene, and circumstances convinces him to agree to take Rapunzel to see the lights. Despite that both are clearly meant for one another, the movie has a good notion not to force that on them, or us.

Once Rapunzel gets out of the tower, Flynn Rider thankfully calms down and the movie, written by Dan Fogelman with song lyrics by Glenn Slater, gets both hilarious and more adventurous by taking on more of Rapunzel’s sunny side of her.

This young animated girl orders a bossy, overzealous army horse named Maximus (the movie’s comic relief) and charms a gang of bloodthirsty gangsters (comedian Brad Garrett (who you might remember from the hilarious sitcom, "Everybody Loves Raymond"), Ron Perlman, Richard Kiel, Paul F. Tompkins, and the beloved Jeffrey Tambor) by asking them about their dreams: A murderous Viking named Hook Hand (Garrett) is, as he admits, a wanna-be pianist who would rather be thought “deadly for my killer show-tune medley.”

Turan goes on in his review to say, “Busy as it is, "Tangled" also finds time to include enough action and adventure sequences, including wild chases, hairbreadth escapes and an enormous flood, to allow even the fussiest small boys to feel it's worth their time.”

It takes a bit of work, but when “Tangled’s” main lovability inserts itself and the film challenges to wear its heart on its sleeve in a climactic scene featuring 46,000 paper lanterns; it’s been worth the wait. Mother Gothel may have a point when she claims that “the world is dark and selfish and cruel,” but that’s why we’re grateful for films like this one.

In the end, I personally say that I loved this film a lot. Sure it may have songs that do appear more pop-like for today’s audience, but it’s relatively lovable for little kids. This is a great step for Disney to be taking, and I’m glad that Disney has really turned the tables and made these kinds of films for kids to love again. Well, look out tomorrow to see what else was thrown at us for “Disney Month.”