“Tangled,” the 50th animated feature in the Disney catalogue, has nothing to do with hair. As is the usual with a Disney film, the voice talent is superb, but is sometimes an afterthought to the stunning visuals. This marriage of typical animation with CGI techniques led to this becoming the costliest animated film of all time.
We are all familiar with the story of the girl with the flowing golden locks who lives in a tower—this is a modern day take on that classic story. Rapunzel’s (voiced by Mandy Moore) day-to-day life plays out inside of said tower, in which she has no obvious means of escape. Unlike the previous versions of the character, this version of Rapunzel is vivacious and curious, yet perpetually reminded by her ‘mother’ that she wouldn’t be able to handle the outside world. Resigned but never defeated, she continues to exist until a stranger climbs through her window, and everything changes—for her and for everyone she encounters.
“Tangled,” with every action shot and its expertly choreographed dance—and with breathtaking landscapes and a memorable soundtrack—is an eye-popping treat for children. It’s colorful and peppy, with its cheerful and ‘animated’ main character. There are many zany moments: children will laugh at a character getting clobbered by a frying pan, grown-ups, not so much. Some will cringe. I surely did, but I couldn’t blame the character for using it either.
But “Tangled” isn’t just for kids. Parents can appreciate and/or understand themes that go beyond simple entertainment and blossoming romance: the young girl consumed by wanderlust, the desire for everlasting youth, the yearning for something that is missing, and the longing for meaning in our lives. Children may have a hard time understanding what it means to desire something more…outside of the latest toy or other material object, that is. Disney films are so successful in part because they appeal to all ages—some offer more for parents than they do their children, and vice versa.
Zachary Levi as ‘Flynn’ in Disney’s “Tangled” (Walt Disney Studios, 2010).
Rapunzel has no idea of the circumstances that led to her residing in the tower. Her world is a tangled mess, but she does not notice or care; she knows something is out there, longs for whatever it is, yet for her is just out of reach. Yet, she feels safe and secure where she is, in this world her ‘mother’ created for her. The feeling is something we can all relate to, yet we also may still choose to continue to exist in our safe little bubbles. Or, we can choose to be vulnerable and put ourselves out there—to explore and to find our purpose. As a parent, I can relate: we lose a bit of ourselves as we focus our hearts and minds on parenting. We are well-intentioned in our desire to protect ourselves and our families, but what if we took a chance on something, sometimes?
With the success of Disney’s live action films, it comes as no surprise the studio is also planning to release a live action version of Rapunzel. Hopefully, we see a fresh take presented on this old story. I only wish I viewed this in the theater, as everything from the beautiful, vibrant landscapes to the detailed artwork in Rapunzel’s tower would surely have popped on the big screen.
“Tangled” was only a minor Box Office success (in part due to its monstrous budget), but its charm did not catch the eye of my young daughter as much as it did for me. The soundtrack and characters were perhaps a bit mature for her; I finished it for the first time on my own. The story is easy to follow and loosely based on the Brothers Grimm tale; and, in this version, is surely more palatable for children, although may fail to keep their attention.
Although “Tangled” is not Disney’s best, it is still a fun, family-friendly entry in the collection and is enjoyable for all ages.
