Walter Elias Disney, according to one Asheville N.C. legend was once fired as an employee of the Asheville newspaper because he was always doodling— especially drawing pictures of a mouse and a duck.  Whether this story is true or not, it is certainly true that Disney’s creations,  Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck would take him much further in life than any career in acting or journalism he aspired to.  In fact it would take him from Chicago to Kansas City and then on to Hollywood.  

There have been exactly 50 animated features (not to be confused with animated shorts or cartoons) made by the Disney enterprise, and while the Black and White Feature Steamboat Willie was about the first,  ‘the word is out that ‘Tangled’ will be the last, at least for a while.  It is also one of the very best. Indeed, on a par with the likes of the Lion King or Finding Nemo in recent years, and old Disney classics like 101 Dalmatians or Sleeping Beauty etc.   

For this movie, it is clear the studio pulled out all the stops, even hiring Alan Mencken of Broadway fame to write the original music.  And indeed ‘Tangled’ is a musical, a magical musical in 3D.   Finally, some the magic of the original films by Walt has been recaptured.  This movie will make you laugh, and cry, and smile and sigh.   It’s wonderful, and perfect for the family.  And yes it has great 3D effects and cool animals, in particular Pascal the chameleon and Maximus the horse who thinks he is a dog (hilarity abounds).   But I am getting ahead of myself.

There is always a danger in do-overs, especially when the story is as familiar as that of the German  Grimm Brothers  (emphasis on grim)  1812 tale Rapunzel.  I remember as a child even seeing a parody of this in the Fractured Fairy Tales feature of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show entitled ‘Repulsive’.   ‘Tangled’ is anything but repulsive.  In fact it is compulsive watching.  I like Tyler Henley’s quip about this movie— long hair hasn’t been this much fun since Woodstock.    Here is a brief Wiki synopsis of the beginning of the plot of the original story, in case you have forgotten—-

“A childless couple that wanted a child lived next to a walled garden which belonged to an enchantress. The wife, as a result of her long-awaited pregnancy, noticed a rapunzel plant planted in the garden and longed for it to the point of death. For two nights, the husband went out and broke into the garden to gather some for her; on the third night, as he was scaling the wall to return home, the enchantress, whose name is said to be “Dame Gothel”, caught him and accused him of theft. He begged for mercy, and the old woman agreed to be lenient, on condition that the then-unborn child be surrendered to her at birth. Desperate, the man agreed. When the girl was born, the enchantress took her and raised her as a ward, naming her Rapunzel. When Rapunzel reached her twelfth year, the enchantress shut her away into a tower in the middle of the woods, with neither stairs nor door, and only one room and one window. When the witch went to visit Rapunzel, she stood beneath the tower and called out:

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair, so that I may climb the golden stair.”

I will not spoil the ending of this new version, but simply say— it’s an upgrade.  Rapunzel is played and sung by Mandy Moore who is marvelous, and Flynn Rider (aka Eugene FitzHerbert)  is voiced and sung by Zach Levi– and who knew he could sing).  In many ways this version comes across like a Broadway play with staged set pieces featuring the music, much like Les Miserables,  and just as effectively.  I do not agree that the music in this film isn’t on a par with the Little Mermaid and other such more recent Disney films. It is excellent, and full of fun.

As for the CG cinematography it is lustrous, wonderous, and magical.  My only complaint is they turned Rapunzel’s eyes into eyes like the characters in the Japanese anime features, and she looks bug-eyed not merely wide eyed at points.  And yes there are some holes in the plot (like how exactly did Flynn and Rapunzel escape dear old mum’s clutches in the forest and end up in party town?).  Never mind, this movie is full of fun, likeable (and despicable) characters, lots of eye-opening CG and honestly a beautiful tale about freedom and love and following one’s dream, and finding one’s family.   The scene in the boat on lantern lighting night is one of the most gorgeous in all the Disney films. Walt must be smiling about now.

The movie is only 1 hour and 40 minutes, and after a little bit of a slow beginning, there will be plenty to keep the children entertained throughout.  No real dead spots.  Rated PG, there is really no reason not to take the whole family for this fun. There is no coarseness, no subliminal objectionable themes, it is a true family film, indeed it is a film about finding one’s true family and it is a blessing.   So poney up the dough and go.  You won’t regret it.  A good time will be had by all.