Tangled 2010
Maybe with Pixar getting so much attention, Disney cartoons seem to almost fall below the radar. The Princess and the Frog was a pretty good movie that I didn’t hear much about and now Tangled. There’s nothing wrong with Tangled, a version of the Rapunzel fairy tale, but it does seem like we’ve had quite a bit of plucky princesses and over-confident suitors (along with little animal sidekicks). There are some good songs, but none of the songs seems to really stick with you like in the era of Beauty and the Beast. Kids will still like it and I even liked it, but this isn’t a classic.
Update (May 2019): I wound up buying this movie on Blu-ray despite only giving it a B. Watching it again, I feel like I probably underestimated it a little. While the songs aren’t famous, they are still pretty good. And the two main characters are very good, with some very good voice acting that captures just the right mood without being completely silly. Part of that is a great sense of humor in the writing and direction with some funny scenes (her mixed feelings on leaving) or physical comedy (when she knocks Flynn out). I think it helped that they got actors who could really sing rather than big names who were not strong singers. The story resolves itself nicely (no parents were harmed!). And the computer animation, while surprisingly primitive in some areas (skin, water) is still pretty amazing with the lighting effects, perspective, and action with a real breakthrough on Rapunzel’s hair (even if her eyes are way too big). And while it does consist of all the usual elements like animal sidekicks, they are pretty good, even if the horse is simply given the mannerisms of a dog. Mother Gothel is a good patient villain, not physically threatening, but two-faced and scheming. Overall this is a pretty enjoyable movie.
Update (Oct 2022): I watched it again to see it in 4k on Disney Plus. This movie gets better with repeated viewings, so I am upping the score from B to A-. While a lot of the elements here have been done many times by Disney, the execution is very good, with more of a focus on humor, action and fun rather than soul searching and emotional manipulation. The more serious things are still there, but they don’t overpower a good story.
Written: 08 Sep 2011
Owned on: Blu-ray, DVD, Digital