New film capitalizes on rich computer generated imagery, classic tale
For Disney, the transition to 3-D animation has been a rough one. It has yet to create a computer-animated movie capable of holding a candle to any one of its hand-drawn masterworks. With "Tangled," however, Disney manages to successfully fuse elements of its classic films with 3-D animation into a hybrid that feels both intensely familiar and yet undeniably modern.
Those familiar with the story of Rapunzel, or just about any of the Disney princess tales, will predict almost every bit of "Tangled." Rapunzel has been kidnapped as an infant and raised in a tower by Mother Gothel, who desires only to use her hair to remain youthful forever. One day, Rapunzel comes across a bandit named Flynn Ryder and ventures to the outside world with him, in spite of Mother Gothel's demands. Although very simplistic at heart, the script is paced surprisingly quickly, so no matter how predictable each story beat is, the film is given enough room to experiment and finds some visually interesting and self-aware ways to convey its narrative.
Instead of attempting to replicate Pixar's hyper-detailed, nuanced style of animation, "Tangled" exhibits that distinctive exaggerated style that has become synonymous with Disney. When combined with "Tangled's" beautiful art style (which is absurdly rich with color), the animation often creates the illusion of watching a painting in motion.
The first two acts of the film actually build toward a singular visual set piece, which could have easily failed to live up to the demands placed upon it. However, Disney's animators have proven yet again to be masters of conveying emotional moments through remarkable visuals. The scene in which Rapunzel witnesses thousands of lanterns rising from the castle she was born in has all the hyperbolic sense of grandeur of classic Disney blended with all the sheer spectacle of modern CG lighting, which delivers fully on its promised beauty.
For the characters and story given to the cast, the voice acting in "Tangled" is excellent. Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) gives off a consistent blend of naiveté and likeability, and Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) pulls off the "thief with a heart of gold" shtick almost effortlessly. The most impressive, however, is Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy), who is one of the most manipulative and cold characters Disney has ever placed in its traditional evil stepmother role. Every line of her motherly dialogue drips with her manipulative nature and ulterior motives, and her singing voice is absolutely astounding.
Unfortunately, although the cast members have great singing voices, the musical segments are fairly few and far between and aren't nearly as memorable as one might hope. There are some creative visual metaphors and slapstick gags that accompany them, but it's still disappointing that the songs feel obligatory and simplistic.
One of the best parts of classic Disney animation to be preserved here is the fantastic amount of detail in nearly every shot of the film. From the mural paintings encircling the ceiling of Rapunzel's tower to a dingy pub in the middle of a forest, each environment has a very distinct feel to it. The movie also manages to make the transitions between these diverse locales flow into one another rather than become jarring.
The story of "Tangled" doesn't break any new ground for Disney, and it isn't as memorable as some of their previous work. However, "Tangled" is an enjoyable reminder of the Disney fairy tales, and while it may not stack up to the classics, its witty dialogue, likeable characters and gorgeous art style make it a joy to watch moment to moment.