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"Tangled" is fully within the grand tradition of Disney's animated classics. Just don't tell that to the Disney marketing department.
Disney's marketing folks, apparently bummed that last year's "The Princess and the Frog" made an OK-but-not-stellar $104 million domestically, has laid down the word that "Tangled" isn't a fairy tale, or a princess story, or a musical — but an action-adventure story that will appeal equally to boys and girls.
But "Tangled" is based on the Rapunzel fairy tale, one of many compiled by the Brothers Grimm, this one about the princess with the long hair trapped in a tower. And the movie has five musical numbers, with music by Alan Menken ("Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid") and lyrics by Glenn Slater, that propel the story the way the songs in a Broadway musical do. (Disney could have this puppy up and running on Broadway by this time next year, if the honchos there put their minds to it.)
But "Tangled" also has plenty of humor and fast-paced action, too, so the boys should enjoy it as much as the girls. (I know mine did.)
In this variation of the story, Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) has grown up locked in a tower, told by Mother Gothel (voiced by Broadway star Donna Murphy) that staying there will protect her from the cold, cruel world. What we know, but Rapunzel doesn't, is that Gothel is keeping Rapunzel locked away to control the magical power of the girl's long blonde hair — which confers a life-giving force when Rapunzel sings to it.
One day, though, someone new arrives at the tower: a roguish, on-the-lam thief, Flynn Rider (voiced by Zachary Levi, of "Chuck" fame). Rapunzel gets hold of Flynn's loot (a tiara that actually belongs to her, as the princess of the nearby kingdom), and tells him he'll get it back if he helps her escape the tower and see some of the real world.
Here's where the adventure part of the movie kicks in, as Rapunzel and Flynn end up in some dynamic chase scenes avoiding Gothel, Flynn's former accomplices, and the kingdom's soldiers — and a stalwart horse named Maximus, who is easily the movie's funniest character.
Directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard (who partnered to make "Bolt") nicely balance the lofty fairy-tale aspects of the story with the action-packed adventure elements. They also do some gorgeous work with the computer animation, especially in manipulating Rapunzel's 70-feet of shimmering hair.
"Tangled" is Disney's 50th-animated film, and it's the studio's first great cross-generational, cross-gender film. It's a princess story that will enthrall the girls, an adventure tale to entertain the boys, all with enough good humor to make anybody laugh.
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Tangled
Girls and boys alike should be captivated with Disney's light-hearted take on the Rapunzel legend.
Where • Theaters everywhere.
When • Opening Wednesday.
Rating • PG for brief mild violence.
Running time • 100 minutes.