Tangled (2010)

Tangled (2010)

7/10

Starring the voice of

Mandy Moore

Zachary Levi

Donna Murphy

Directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard

When you get to see Tangled you will be left laughing hard at the comedic adventure, which makes this animation one you will love to see more than once.

Much of the praise in this movie goes to the character development, Rapunzel was a tough lady and not your everyday princess waiting to be rescued. Her core driving force was to be able to prove she could take care of herself in the real world, regardless that she has never really experienced living in it.

The animation of the hair is what I truly enjoyed, the way she was able to control it, use it and master it regardless of how long it was is something best seen than explained.

Before we dive into the films plot, here is a little history on the character. The film is loosely based on the German fairy tale "Rapunzel" by the Brothers Grimm about a girl named Rapunzel who is captured by a villain named Gothel. Gothel locked her in a tower that can only be accessed from a single window. Gothel can reach Rapunzel by climbing the distinct feature of the young girl, her long golden hair.

Disney opted to present the movie with the title Tangled instead of Rapunzel, as they planned to reinvent the lead character from a girl needing to be saved, to a strong lady fighting to be free.

Rapunzel was a captured princess, who was captured as a baby and was locked away in the tower by Gothel. Gothel used the power of youth gotten from Rapunzel’s hair to be able to stay alive (the back story to this tale is better seen in the movie intro).

On Rapunzel’s 18^th birthday she asked to be allowed to leave her captivity and explore the world, Gothel refused telling her that the world is not safe.

A thief named Flynn stole from the real parents of Rapunzel and escapes into the tower in which Gothel kept Rapunzel. Rapunzel using her long hair to her advantage captures Flynn and keeps him hostage to prove to Gothel that she can take care of herself.

Things didn’t go as planed with Gothel so she uses her prisoner and her leverage over him for him to be a guide for her as she ventures on her first adventure.

Tangled is Disney's 50^th animated feature film, and it was developed as a musical adventure. The animation that preceded it is The Princess and the Frog (2009), which marked the return of Disney to animated musical films.

Their animated musicals were widely successful during the period of 1989 - 1999 called the Disney Renaissance era.