I just got back from Enchanted...

...and I was a little bit disappointed. Not in Adams - the girl has magic - but in the film itself. Just too many talking animals and ill-advised CGI dragons for my taste... they seemed to be pandering to the little kids in the audience, of whom there were many in my theater. For every spark of magic, there was a CGI chipmunk routine that just lingered onscreen for too long. And that was annoying. BUT I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. I just thought the film could have been much better, when in fact it's quite disposable but for Adams and the other lead actors.

Amy Adams as Giselle lives up to the hype. She really goes for it with this character, and brings the cliché Disney princess icon to life. But what surprised me is how good James Marsden and Patrick Dempsey were as her two love interests. Marsden is just as committed to his role as Adams is to hers. He's dreamy as the silly-but-charming Prince Edward. And of course he gets to sing again, which is nice. And Dempsey anchors the film as the audience surrogate who finds himself slowly falling in love with Giselle. I never understood the fuss about him before (I don't watch Grey's Anatomy), but he was a very effective leading man here. And Susan Sarandon is a hoot as the evil queen, though not necessarily for the right reasons. She's not particularly good in the role, it's just fun to watch her try something like this. It's kind of a Jodie Foster-in-Inside Man kinda thing.

Sadly, the leads aren't quite done justice by the film around them. It's quite frustrating, too, since it seems like there's a really great film in here somewhere, but it's constantly undercut by lame CGI, overexplanation of plot, and lack of character development, despite the actors' best efforts.

Awards chances for Amy Adams:
Golden Globe nom - locked
Golden Globe win - likely
Academy Award nom - possible
Academy Award win - unlikely

Awards chances for the film:
It will be big at the globes. I think the box office and the Adams hype will carry it into the top category, and the score and at least one song should find nominations, too. Probably 4 noms in total. Dempsey or Marsden could get attention in the lead actor category, but I'm betting they'll split each other's support and end up cancelling each other out.

Oscar-wise, I think the film is looking at a song nom and possible score nom, as well as Amy Adams for best actress. Nothing else is happening, I don't think. And Adams is no lock either; the film is REALLY fluffy. It's certainly no Mary Poppins. And even Pretty Woman was much more dramatic. But it will make a lot of money, and Adams is kinda having a "Julia Roberts by way of Julie Andrews" moment (quote: Joe Reid). So the nomination may well come to pass. The win, though? I doubt it. But you never know.