Tangled: Movie Review

For those who have lost faith in Disney and have yet to watch Tangled, the Disney animated film is a must watch.

The fantasy film, featuring the voices of Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, is much more than a princess movie -- it's filled with action, humor, and yes, romance. It's easy to forget that one is viewing pixels because the images are so real and the chemistry between Rapunzel and the mysterious and charismatic Flynn Rider is such a genuine delight.

Tangled takes a modern twist on the age-old Rapunzel fairy tale and makes it accessible to viewers of all ages. Rapunzel, stuck in a secluded tower, doesn't know that she's a princess. The talented girl longs to break free from her "mother" (who really isn't her mother at all) and go to the floating lanterns she sees each year on her birthday. On the verge of her 18th birthday, she breaks free and goes on a wild adveture led by Flynn.

The music of the film, composed by Alan Menken, will have tunes stuck in viewers' heads days after watching the movie. Although the songs aren't as memorable as classics from The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast, songs such as I See the Light and the score Kingdom Dance are beautifully composed, setting the perfect mood for each scene.

Even side characters are a joy to watch. The horse, Maximus, provides much slapstick humor in his interactions with Flynn. Pascal, the chameleon, is also full off flair and attitude.

The movie is directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, who have worked on previous Disney films like Mulan and Lilo and Stitch. It's apparent that the directors spent a meticulous amount of time beautifully capturing small details and human gestures. The animated emotions between Flynn and Rapunzel are so raw that it makes human actors pale in comparison.

Tangled is the most expensive animated film yet. Based on the superb product, the money was well worth it.