Review

Enchanted

Common Sense Media says

Adorable fairy tale is a fabulous family flick.
Age
6
Quality
 

  • Sends the message that even though true love doesn't always come in a predictable "Prince Charming" package, your dreams can still come true.
  • Despite Giselle's differences, her enthusiasm and positive outlook are ultimately appreciated.
  • A wicked witch tries to poison Giselle; Edward wields his sword against a troll and out and about in New York City (no one is hurt). Nathaniel takes out his frustrations on Pip, mostly to humorous effect. The queen transforms into a big, threatening dragon and tries to kill Giselle and Robert (after doing her best to do Giselle in via other means).
  • A few kisses, including "true love's kiss," and a scene of Giselle modestly coming out of the shower and getting wrapped in a towel. She also flirts/dances with Robert. Some dating/relationship innuendo that will go over kids' head.
  • Not applicable.
  • Coke, I Love NY souvenir items, Mac laptop, Blackberry PDAs, Vipp traschan, Calypso, Prada, Elie Tahari, etc. (Giselle indulges in some prime retail therapy at one point). Plus, lots of tie-ins to the Disney Princess marketing machine.
  • Giselle is served an apple martini but doesn't drink it. A character gets sloshed at a bar.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this mostly live-action Disney fairy tale will appeal to kids -- even very young ones -- who have seen the many trailers and TV ads. Like most Disney flicks, the romance is chaste (a few kisses), the violence is mild (though the climactic battle with a dragon at the end could scare some sensitive little ones), and the language isn't an issue. That said, there are quite a few product placements (not to mention the tie-ins to the whole Disney Princess juggernaut) and one scene of a character getting drunk at a bar.


This review of Enchanted was written by
Age
8

Most useful reviews by all members

Parent of 4 and 6 year old
February 19, 2011
 
Topics of Divorce and Committment poorly handled
Well, it was entertaining enough for the adults, but I think there are some topics and scenes which are too much for young kids. Here's what the reviews don't prepare you for: 1) the topic of divorce and, 2) why it's "ok" to leave someone you're with for someone else. On #1: For some young kids, divorce is a tragedy they are not ready to be introduced to (if they are fortunate enough to not have experienced it firsthand). In the story, the mom "just left" her husband and daughter. That can instill a lot of fear and worry into young kids. "Why did her mom just go?" or "Didn't she love them anymore?" "Will my mom/dad ever just go?" Also, why someone's job might be to help mom's and dad's split up (as opposed to help reconcile) is all tough. On #2, Giselle, who has found true love and is to marry her prince, drops him for Robert (in a rather sensually charged scene where she runs her fingers over his chest and plays with his chest hair). That one is easier to explain (i.e. she didn't really know the prince). Hard to explain, is Robert's actions. After 5 years, he ditches his girlfriend for Giselle. "How can he like her when he already has a girlfirend?" It makes "true love" seem like a very fickle thing; driven by feelings and emotions. Granted, you can't do these topics justice in 107 minutes, but that doesn't mean you can dismiss them and conveniently sweep them under the carpet either. Oh, one more thing: the scene at the end with the dragon is indeed REALLY scary for the little ones. For my 6 year-old, it soured the whole movie. As soon as the movie was over, she got up and turned the TV off (before the credits rolled).

Adult
April 9, 2008
 
This is not for young children
I admit CS reviewed this for ages 6+ but I took my five year old and she asked to go home as soon as the action changed from animation to live action. It was way too intense and scary. Also, in the first 15-20 minutes (all I saw before leaving), Giselle's crown was stolen by a homeless man and there was a very growup scene of two adults shouting at each other in a divorce hearing -- all of it too overwhelming for my daughter. It is probably a great movie for older kids (the beginning was really fun to watch, with lots of inside jokes and Disney sendups) but I think even 6 is too young for some of the more mature topics...but then I can't comment on anything more than the beginning!

Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Cute family flick is a tad sexually aware, but fine for kids 6+
Sexual Content (Pause): True love's kiss plays a key role in the plot. Giselle is seen getting out of the shower (no nudity shown) and ends up falling on Robert in an inadvertently sexual position. She also shows varying amounts of cleavage throughout the movie, as do other female characters. Some mild sexually-oriented jokes and innuendo. Violence (Pause): Giselle is poisoned. Swords are wielded about frequently. The opening sequence with a large troll and the ending sequence with the queen turning into a huge dragon may frighten younger children. Some slapstick. Language (Not an Issue): None. Social Behavior (On): True love and dreams coming true are major themes of the film. Giselle is optimistic and overtly kind, and while she is initially looked down upon at first for her "strange" behavior, the people of NYC come to appreciate her. Commercialism (Pause): Seeing as this story takes place in the Big Apple, expect lots of product placement. Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco (Pause): Giselle is served an apple martini (she almost drinks it, but Pip stops her from doing so).

Kid, 11 years old
May 21, 2011
 
Too much kissing Yuck!!!!!!!!!
I don't even want to talk about this dumb movie.

Teen, 14 years old
December 30, 2010
 
OK for kids' ages 5+
School Age Child Care at my elementary school watched this movie. However, there are some iffy scenes like Giselle falls down and transports from cartoon to real life under a sewer, then goes to New York City, crazy animals in her apartment trying to clean her apartment up looking pretty strange, and she is wrapped around a towel getting out of a shower when she told someone to come in.

Parent of 12 year old
April 9, 2008
 
Cute and Charming Family Flick with Mild Content
ENCHANTED is the story of what happens when animated fairy tale and real-life NYC meet. One would expect it to be ugly, but Disney handles it with such wit and charm that makes it irresistable. The funniest and most amusing part of the film is Princess Giselle, played to hilarious brilliance by Amy Adams. When Giselle pops out into our world, she is shocked by modern faucets, electrical lights, and divorces. She handles the latter with charm and ends up bringing a troubled couple back together with her Princess views of love. Adams is made for this role, playing Giselle like a giddy, naive child, scared of the change but embracing and anticipating of the possibilities. There is some mild innuendo and suggestive humor. Robert, the hero, walks into the bathroom just as Giselle is stepping out of the shower (he, and the audience, see nothing, as birds enter with a towel for a timely covering). Also, during one part, a young child tells Giselle (no doubt mimicking what she's heard on the street or elsewhere) that when boys see girls with a lot of make-up on their minds are centered on one thing only. When Giselle asks what, the girl replies "I don't know. No one ever tells me". Positive behavior pervades the film discouraging things like giving up and divorcing, and encouraging repentance, commitment, and true love. Highly reccomended!

Parent of 4 and 8 year old
April 9, 2008
 
Delightful and in good taste
My wife and I took our two girls, three and eight. All of us enjoyed it. It's a typical storybook romance with updated humor and issues that don't leave you wishing the kids "didn't hear that one." The actors are very suited for their characters and do a wonderful job of bringing a princess' story into todays reality of broken homes, separation, and divorce. At times I even wondered, "yeah why do people decide to leave each other instead of working it out?" I would watch it again.

Kid, 9 years old
April 9, 2008
 
A twist on all princesse movies!
I saw this movie with my mom. It was awseome!! I want to see it again with my friends. Age rate:6+

Parent of 3 and 5 year old
June 26, 2009
 
Ideal for tweens and older girls, great mom movie
Sweet, adorable movie best suited for older girls (8/9+) and parents. Typical Disney fairy-tale sort of thing, with lots of adult themes. Dempsey is the dashing handsome reluctant hero, and Adams is sugary sweet princess in need.

Teen, 14 years old
April 15, 2011
 
Great for all ages!!!!!
AMAZING. As you can see, I'm a teen and still love this movie. Some dating jokes that will go over kids heads but that parents will laugh at. Firebreathing dragon at the end, but it is a Disney fairytale, so you can kind of expect that. Overall a wonderfull family film!

(PG, 1987)

Witty, winsome fairy tale for the whole family.

(PG, 2004)

Endearing, enduring, with just a few bits of crude humor.

(G, 2001)

Terrific fun for girls and their families, too.

(PG-13, 2007)

Dazzling fantasy romcom has some dark moments.