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 watch Tangled, you’ll be left laughing hard at its comedic adventure, making it an animation you’ll want to see more than once.
Much of the praise for this movie goes to its character development. Rapunzel is a tough lady—not your everyday princess waiting to be rescued. Her driving force is proving she can take care of herself in the real world, even though she’s never actually experienced it.
The animation of her hair is something I truly enjoyed. The way she controls, uses, and masters it, despite its incredible length, is something best seen rather than explained.

Before diving into the film’s plot, here’s a little history on the character. The movie is loosely based on the German fairy tale Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm, about a girl captured by a villain named Gothel. Gothel locks her in a tower accessible only through a single window, using Rapunzel’s long golden hair to climb up and reach her.

Disney chose to title the movie Tangled instead of Rapunzel, as they aimed to reinvent the lead character from a damsel in distress to a strong, independent woman fighting for her freedom. So, if like me, you grew up reading the fairytale, this change to the character gives the animation the needed twist. The animation also changed the idea of a prince coming to save the day.

Rapunzel is a captured princess, taken as a baby and locked away in a tower by Gothel. Gothel uses the magical power of Rapunzel’s hair to maintain her youth and stay alive (the backstory is better seen in the movie’s intro).

On Rapunzel’s 18th birthday, she asks to leave the tower and explore the world, but Gothel refuses, claiming the world is too dangerous.
Meanwhile, a thief named Flynn steals from Rapunzel’s real parents and stumbles upon her tower while escaping. Rapunzel uses her long hair to capture Flynn and holds him hostage, hoping to prove to Gothel that she can take care of herself.

When things don’t go as planned with Gothel, Rapunzel uses Flynn as her guide for her first adventure into the outside world.

Tangled is Disney’s 50th animated feature film and was developed as a musical adventure. It follows The Princess and the Frog (2009), which marked Disney’s return to animated musical films.
Their animated musicals were hugely successful during the Disney Renaissance era (1989–1999), and Tangled continues that legacy with its charm and humor.