Critics’ reviews

Enchanted (2007)

13 reviews from 13 publications. Critics’ score 74: 10 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative.

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74
Positive
10
Mixed
2
Negative
1

Most critics like Enchanted, and nearly all of them like it for the same reason: Amy Adams. Review after review singles out her Giselle, praising her for playing the character’s innocence straight and making it funny and touching rather than cloying. Beyond the lead, the reviews warm to the film’s affectionate parody of Disney’s own fairy tales, and several call it the studio’s most enjoyable family outing in years.

The spread is fairly narrow, with most reviews landing between good and very good, but the reservations are consistent where they appear. Total Film and Collider find it safe or too self-conscious to rank with the classics, and Den of Geek notes the villain is underused. The two sharper dissents come from Slant Magazine, which finds its treatment of women regressive, and The Hollywood Reporter, which calls it grating and says the premise goes largely unexplored. Even those two, though, credit Adams.

The Guardian
5 April 2008 · Mark Kermode
90*

Kermode finds the film a delightful, refreshing family fantasy that appeals across ages. He especially praises Amy Adams for making Giselle’s innocence charming rather than irritatingly cute.

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The Independent
16 December 2007 · Nicholas Barber
90*

Barber finds the film wholesome, mischievous and enchanting, calling it Disney’s best cartoon in years. He especially praises Amy Adams’s performance as Giselle, whose straight-faced naivety wins laughs and sympathy.

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Variety
18 November 2007 · Todd McCarthy
90*

McCarthy finds the film an unusually charming, broadly appealing musical that lives up to its title. He especially praises Amy Adams’s magnetic performance, which gives Giselle’s transformation emotional depth and comic sparkle.

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Empire
30 October 2007 · Olly Richards
80*

Richards finds the film a silly, retro blast that works especially well for fairy-tale fans. He singles out Amy Adams’s spirited comic performance as one of the year’s best.

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Radio Times
★★★★ · Sue Robinson
80

The critic suggests the film succeeds where the Shrek sequel disappointed. Amy Adams is singled out as Giselle in the story’s shift from animation to live action.

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Time Out
12 October 2007 · ★★★★ · Derek Adams
80

The review praises the film as an amusing parody of Disney’s own stories. It singles out the playful blend of classic fairy-tale material for praise.

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Screen Daily
21 November 2007 · Brent Simon
75*

Simon finds the film a genial, pleasantly told family comedy that leaves a smile. He especially praises Amy Adams’s radiant, engaging performance as Giselle.

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Total Film
14 December 2007 · ★★★ · Total Film
60

The review calls the film a safe, enjoyable family outing, though not a spectacular one. It singles out Amy Adams’s energetic, dimensional performance as the film’s heart and soul.

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Slant Magazine
16 November 2007 · ★★/4 · Nick Schager
50

Schager finds the film energetic but ultimately regressive in its treatment of women. He praises the humor of Giselle cleaning Robert’s apartment with the help of city animals.

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The Hollywood Reporter
18 November 2007 · Kirk Honeycutt
35*

Honeycutt finds the film clever in moments but ultimately grating and heavy-handed. He praises Amy Adams for making Giselle’s transition from cartoon to live action believable, while faulting the film for leaving its premise largely unexplored.

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Eye for Film
1 December 2007 · Val Kermode
90*

Kermode finds the film delightful and says its simple premise is executed with charm. She especially praises the leads’ innocent performances and the film’s ability to entertain without irony.

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Den of Geek
8 August 2008 · ★★★★ · Simon Brew
80

Brew warmly recommends the film and its Blu-ray presentation, while noting the villain is underused. He singles out Amy Adams’s performance as the film’s standout strength.

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Collider
18 March 2008 · Brian Orndorf
70*

The critic finds Enchanted an entertaining family film, though too self-conscious to match classic Disney. Amy Adams’s committed, energetic performance as Giselle is singled out for praise, while the ending’s overt self-reference and bathroom humor draw complaints.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate