Missed Opportunity
I watched Enchanted with Mary last night. It’s a cute movie, even if it can’t decide whether it wants to completely buy into or take the piss out of all the “Princessy true love conquers all” tropes; it’s a little schizophrenic that way, but remains enjoyable fluff. James Marsden sells the hell out of his lunkhead cartoon prince, though, and mostly steals the movie.
The film does commit one nigh-unforgiveable crime: it casts Idina Menzel in a project with big honking huge musical production numbers and doesn’t let her sing. They let Patrick “Meatballs III” Dempsey sing a little bit, but not the Tony award winning vocalist?
Seriously, she can sing the pants off of everybody in that movie, including the damned chipmunk, whether or not she’s painted green. I guess she’s just not as fundamentally Princess Cute™ as Amy Adams according to Disney Executives. Their lack of foresight is, sadly, the audience’s loss.
Of course, Kristen Chenoweth (who probably qualifies as Princess Cute™), stole all the thunder from Wicked out from under Menzel. I also think this is kind of a crime, if less unforgiveable (as I generally like KC’s work).
Still, I suppose you have a certain something when Aaron Sorkin writes a whole 13 episode tv series to work through his issues after you break up.
