In 2007, I went to Kuala Lumpur for the first time. While I have some interesting stories from that trip, one of the things I did was see an American movie, of all things. My friend, who is one of the smartest people I know (and my lovely host), suggested that we go to the movies. I think this is one of the things about living abroad and hosting people from a home country: the visitors want to see the cool stuff they never get to see at home, and the hosts want the visitor to feel as at home as possible.

She insisted that I see this movie Enchanted, because she loved it. I was skeptical, primarily because it was a Disney musical and I do not get along with Disney. However, I was overruled because she is smarter and I defer to her judgment. After getting into the movie theater, I felt that it would be enough just for the experience. (And the Malaysian PSAs, which are not to be missed!)

Enchanted is a take off of almost every Disney movie ever made. An animated “princess” (quoted because I was never sure if she was an actual princess or not) from the land of Andalasia, Giselle (Amy Adams), waits for her prince to come with a typical assortment of talking animals who seem to derive nothing but satisfaction from catering to her every whim. And a prince does come -- just in time to save her from a troll. So Giselle and Prince Edward (James Marsden) fall instantly in love and plan to marry the next day. However, his Evil Stepmother Narissa (Susan Sarandon) doesn’t like that idea, so she throws Giselle into a well that transports her into modern day (and real-life) New York.

Once there, she discovers that animals can’t talk and there is no happily-ever-after. Confused and alone, Giselle meets (and promptly moves in with) a divorce attorney named Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey). While Robert is appropriately distrustful, Morgan in enraptured by this real-life princess. Back in Andalasia, Edward jumps in the well in order to save Giselle, with her pet chipmunk Pip along for the ride. Narissa, worried that Edward may succeed, sends in her servant Nathaniel after them and gives him poisoned apples to kill Giselle.

However, Giselle has caused problems with his Robert’s fiancée Nancy (Idina Minzel), and his clients. Although she solves them later, it causes Robert to get into trouble and he tries to leave her in Central Park -- although he doesn’t get very far. Instead they kind of have a pseudo-date and Robert slowly starts to fall in love with her. Eventually, Edward does find Giselle and they go on an awkward date. Finally, the movie comes to a head at a ball where Narissa is finally able to poison Giselle. Eventually, Nancy, Robert, Edward and Giselle are able to defeat Narissa.

And, of course, live happily ever after.

One of the things I do like about this movie is that it makes light-hearted fun of Disney. Disney usually doesn’t laugh at itself, so it’s nice to see. In the beginning of the movie, the song “True Love’s Kiss” involves Giselle making a creepy statue of her One True Love, and both Edward and Giselle seem to have the goal of True Love’s Kiss as being a bit more important than actually being with a person they love. Then, when she’s in Manhattan, it’s all shown to be a bit meaningless, and Giselle realizes that she might have to get to know a person for more than a day to fall in love with them. In the end, there is the trademark saccharine ending with True Loves and all that, but I do like that there is an acknowledgment that other things matter rather than just magically getting together. That other aspect of love, toxic relationships, was shown hilariously with Susan Sarandon’s Narissa and Nathaniel, who finally learns to stand up for himself through soap operas and talk shows.

I also like that, for the most part, things work differently in New York than Andalasia. When Giselle falls off a tree, Edward rescues her effortlessly. When Robert catches her, he is injured a bit. Pip can’t talk and, in one of the most hilarious scenes in the movie, Giselle calls the wildlife in to help her clean. In New York, the wildlife is what you would expect: cockroaches, rats, and pigeons. Robert has the proper reaction to that!

Speaking of funny, Enchanted has some great gut-busting moments. The first time I saw the musical numbers in Central Park, I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe. Robert’s insistence that people were looking and his confusion when people were singing and dancing with Giselle were the best parts of the movie. That he begins to believe later was a bit disappointing to me, but his cynicism in the meantime was hilarious. As was Giselle’s contrast that makes him look like a total schlub.

The actors were also great. I don’t think this movie would have worked if it weren’t for the actors’ wholehearted acceptance of their roles. Sometimes you can see the irony rolling off people in roles like this, but Amy Adams and James Marsden were in earnest and embraced their roles. You really get the idea that they truly believe what they espouse. And while I found Prince Edward slightly boring and Giselle’s hand gestures were irritating, I could definitely get behind how absolutely multi-dimensional 2-D characters could be.

So, was my friend smart enough to know what I would like, and great enough to force me into something that I might otherwise not have watched? Of course! I am incredibly glad that she did. That’s why she the smart one. Now let me be the smart one, and recommend this hilarious movie to those who haven’t seen it before!

   -- Sara Paige