- “Happily Never After.”
- ―Tagline
Disenchanted is an American fantasy-musical film and sequel to Enchanted, produced and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures in association with Barry Sonnenfeld and Josephson Entertainment. The film was written and directed by Adam Shankman. It was released on November 18, 2022 on Disney+.
Synopsis[]
It has been 10 years since Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) wed, but Giselle has grown disillusioned with life in the city, so they move their growing family to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville in search of a more fairy tale life. Unfortunately, it isn't the quick fix she had hoped for. Suburbia has a whole new set of rules and a local queen bee, Malvina Monroe (Maya Rudolph), who makes Giselle feel more out of place than ever. Frustrated that her happily ever after hasn't been so easy to find, she turns to the magic of Andalasia for help, accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale and placing her family's future happiness in jeopardy. Now, Giselle is in a race against time to reverse the spell and determine what happily ever after truly means to her and her family.
Plot[]
Pip retells the events of the first film to his sons as well as Giselle's early years as a baby being raised by animals. He then realizes it is time to tell them a new story of what happened to Giselle and her family after finding their "happily ever after".
Ten years after moving to New York City, Giselle, Robert, and Morgan Philip are living happily together and welcome a new baby girl named Sofia. However, life in the city is starting to drag on Giselle and Robert are hit with new parent hardships, and Morgan has become a cynical teenager. Despite having a wonderful life, Giselle feels as though something is missing from her life. Seeing a billboard for the idyllic suburbia known as Monroeville, Giselle makes plans to move the family away, with Morgan being very reluctant to go. Their new house, described as a "fixer-upper", unsettles Morgan. Robert has to commute to New York to continue his job, and Giselle meets Malvina Monroe, the snooty head of the town council. Prince Edward and Nancy arrive from Andalasia and bequeath a wish granting wand to them that can only be used by "a true daughter of Andalasia". Morgan befriends Malvina's handsome son, Tyson, but is shunned by everyone else at school. Giselle tries to help by building a cupcake stand, but this only embarrasses Morgan and Giselle is forced to take it down by Malvina.
Realizing that their new life is still hard, Giselle uses the wand to wish that their life was as simple as a fairy tale. The next day, the entire world has transformed into a fantasy land with the town now called Monrolasia. Only Giselle and Pip the chipmunk are aware of the changes that have happened with Morgan happy with her life and Robert believing that he is a brave adventurer, albeit a terrible one. While Giselle takes Morgan and Sofia into town, Malvina is revealed to have been turned into an evil magic queen and is holding a festival. Whenever the clock strikes, Giselle takes on a more snarky personality and seems envious of Morgan. She soon realizes that since she is a step-mother, she is becoming a wicked one and finds that Morgan's room is poorly kept. Incidentally, this causes Pip to transform into a tabby cat since wicked step mothers have cats not chipmunks.
Giselle consults the magic instructions and learns that she has until midnight that night to reverse the wish, otherwise everything will be permanent. Malvina, having figured out that Giselle has a magic wand, sends her two lackies Rosaleen and Ruby to steal the wand, but realizes that she cannot use it, resulting in them also holding the instructions hostage. Giselle, realizing that she is losing herself to her wicked side, sends Morgan down the well back to Andalasia while she heads over to Malvina's to get the wand. The two of them instead decide to hold a battle at midnight to decide who will be the villain of the town. Morgan ends up in Andalasia with her memory restored, but finds the land being slowly sucked into a portal. Edward and Nancy reveal that since Giselle wished for the whole world to change and have magic, it is taking up all of Andalasia until there is nothing left as the kingdom itself is made of magic. Morgan realizes that to save Giselle, she needs to use a memory tree (a childhood project of hers) to bring her back. After finding memories and having her dress restored Morgan and Nancy head back to Monrolasia while Edward stays behind to protect Andalasia.
Robert returns from his day and realizes that Morgan is missing and heads out to find her. Giselle has Pip steal the wand from Malvina as she goes to attend the festival. She wishes that she was the queen and she and Malvina duel, causing the magic to rupture through the town. Morgan and Nancy find Tyson and Robert and head to the city hall to stop the duel. Morgan tosses her family tree project to Giselle who rips it up, but is encased with a magic spell that turns her back to normal. Giselle is about to wish everything back to normal, but Malvina puts Morgan into a sleep spell and demands the wand from her. She destroys it, but releases Morgan. Robert and Tyson head to the top of the clock tower to delay the final chime as Giselle tells Morgan that she is a true daughter of Andalasia and therefore capable of using it. Morgan wishes that she was home with her mother just as Malvina attempts to destroy the clock tower with Robert and Tyson in it.
Morgan awakens to discover that everything is back to normal and only she and Giselle are aware of the events while everyone else believes that they simply had a strange dream. Giselle goes over to apologize to Malvina for stepping over her plans while Malvina, showing a bit of humility, allows Giselle to join her council. Robert decides to move his practice to Monroeville so that he does not have to commute, Morgan and Tyson start a relationship and Nancy and Edward continue to visit the Philips in their now happy life. Giselle comes to the realization that though her life may not be fairy tale perfect, it is quite amazing and all she has to do is look deep for the magic within.
The movie concludes as Pip finishes telling the story to his sons and quietly wishes them good night.
Cast[]
- Amy Adams as Giselle
- Patrick Dempsey as Robert Philip
- James Marsden as King Edward
- Idina Menzel as Nancy Tremaine
- Maya Rudolph as Malvina Monroe
- Gabriella Baldacchino as Morgan Philip
- Rachel Duff as Young Morgan Philip
- Yvette Nicole Brown as Rosaleen
- Jayma Mays as Ruby
- Kolton Stewart as Tyson Monroe
- Oscar Nuñez as Edgar
- Alan Tudyk as Scroll
- Griffin Newman as Pip
- Brooke Josephson as Fairy
- Mila and Lara Jackson as Sofia Philip
- Eimear Morrissey as Sander
- James Monroe Iglehart as Weary Businessman/Baker
- Michael McCorry Rose as Disgruntled Businessman/Sign Painter
- Ann Harada as Sardonic Businesswoman/Florist
- Rachel Covey as Monrolasia Girl
- Stephanie Karam as Gardener/Flora
- Fiona Browne as Gardener/Fauna
- Camille Lucy Ross as Gardener/Merryweather
- Adam Shankman as Grumpy Vendor/Kip/Skip
- Kevin Asbury as Troll (uncredited)
Production[]
Development[]
In February 2010, Variety reported that Walt Disney Pictures planned to film a sequel with Barry Josephson and Barry Sonnenfeld producing again. Jessie Nelson was attached to write the screenplay and Anne Fletcher to direct. Disney hoped the cast members from the first film would return and for a release as early as 2011.[1]
On January 12, 2011, composer Alan Menken was asked about the sequel in an interview. His reply was, "I've heard things, but there's nothing yet. I don't know much about what's happening with that. Honestly, I don't know what the studio wants to do next. I presume there will be some future projects for me to work on. I love doing that, I really do. But I'm not frustrated that this isn't one of them. At the moment, I have a lot of stage things happening and I'm busy enough with that, so I really don't need more on my plate."[2]
On March 28, 2011, in an interview for his latest film Hop, James Marsden was asked about the sequel.[3]
- “I don't know. I think that the clock is ticking on that one. Amy Adams and I are both saying, "If there's going to be a sequel, we're not getting any younger." Since we play sort of ageless animated characters. Hopefully we do. That was something really special, and I'd love to come back and do another. I've heard the same things you've heard. There's a script out there somewhere and there's talk of it, but I never believe it until I see the script and know that we're actually making that film. So I don't know. Too many eggs in that basket.”
- ―James Marsden
As of July 2014, Disney had hired screenwriters J. David Stem and David N. Weiss to write a script for a sequel, and also hired Anne Fletcher to direct the film.[4]
On September 29, 2015, it was announced that the Enchanted sequel was now under the working title Disenchanted.[5]
On October 6, 2016, it was announced that Adam Shankman would replace Anne Fletcher as the director of the film.
On January 15, 2018, Shankman revealed that the script for the film was almost finished and, afterward, the songs would be written. He also confirmed the film would contain more songs than the first film but an equal amount of hand-drawn animation as the first.[6] Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz would also return to write songs for the film.[7]
On May 21, 2019, during an interview, Menken revealed that the film hasn't been green-lit yet, as it is still in early stages of development, with the writers "trying to get the script right".[8] In February 2020, Schwartz said that talks about the sequel have taken place in London, and revealed that Shankman will also write the film.[9]
In March 2020, it was reported that the film has entered the pre-production stage of development.[10] Later that month, Menken said that he's writing music for Disenchanted.[11] In April 2020, Menken confirmed that he and Schwartz had begun writing songs for the film.[12]
On December 10, 2020, during the Disney Investors Meeting, it was announced that Disenchanted would be coming to Disney+, along with the confirmation that Adams would be reprising her role as Giselle. Further details such as a release date and director were not revealed.[13] On December 21, 2020, it was reported that Patrick Dempsey would reprise his role as Giselle's husband Robert Philip.
On April 23, 2021, Disney fansite The DisInsider reported a possible synopsis for the film as well as a report that the Seven Dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will play a pivotal role and take part in one of the songs.[14]
Casting[]
In January 2021, Patrick Dempsey revealed he had the script for the film and that they will hopefully start filming in the spring of that year.[15]
On March 23, 2021, in an interview with JLGB, Menken revealed that James Marsden and Idina Menzel would also return, and that the role of Morgan Philip (initially played by child actress Rachel Covey in the original) would possibly be recast.
On April 26, 2021, Deadline reported that Maya Rudolph, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Jayma Mays were cast in the sequel, supposedly as the antagonists.[16]
On May 17, 2021, Disney confirmed via Twitter the previously reported casting, alongside the additions of Kolton Stewart, Oscar Nuñez, and newcomer Gabriella Baldacchino, who will replace Covey in the role of Morgan, as well as a release year of 2022.
With the release of the trailer on September 9, 2022, comedian Griffin Newman revealed via Twitter that he would be the new voice of Pip the chipmunk, replacing both Jeff Bennett and Kevin Lima from the first film.
Filming[]
While the film takes place in upstate New York, it was really filmed in a village in Ireland called Enniskerry. Filming began on May 17, 2021 and concluded on July 21, 2021. Reshoots in Ireland took place in Buckinghamshire, England on March 28, 2022. Although the first live-action scene of Giselle and her family leaving their home was filmed on location in New York City at the same Riverside Drive apartment as the original film.
Animation[]
Unlike the first film, which had animated sequences directed by James Baxter with contributions from several veterans of hand-drawn animation at Disney, such as Mark Henn and Andreas Deja, this film's animated sequences were outsourced to a French-Canadian animation company called TonicDNA.
Music[]
- Main article: Disenchanted (soundtrack)
In May 2021, Stephen Schwartz said that the film will have seven songs and reprises, including two songs for Nancy, played by Menzel, who initially had a song in the first film, but was cut. In addition, he stated that the songs were being written in collaboration with the scriptwriters and directors organically, unlike the first film where the song spots were already indicated in the script.[17]
During "Disney+ Night" on Dancing with the Stars, host Tyra Banks announced the soundtrack would be released on November 18, 2022.
On November 16, 2022, Menzel announced on her Instagram that her song "Love Power" would be released as a single the following day.[18]
Release[]
Marketing[]
The first trailer was released on September 9, 2022. The second trailer was released on November 1, 2022.
Reception[]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 38% of 101 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "Although Amy Adams remains just as engaging as ever, Disenchanted lacks the magic that made its predecessor a modern fairytale classic." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 50 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."
Videos[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This is the final Disney live-action film to use the 2006-2022 Disney logo, since Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.
- And also the final Disney+ original live-action film to use the 2006-2022 Disney logo, since Lady and the Tramp and Noelle.
- Thus, it still used in the second season of Launchpad in 2023.
- This is the second sequel of a theatrical Disney film to be released on Disney+ in 2022, after Hocus Pocus 2.
- Also, both two films feature recycled scenes from previous films; however, Disenchanted only recycled animated scenes (live-action scenes are replaced by their animation style to match Andalasia's setting).
- Pip's line "Jumping jellysticks" is a play on "Jumping jellyfish", a catchphrase that was uttered by Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, is commonly used in SpongeBob SquarePants, and originated in Jabberjaw.
- On YouTube, the teaser trailer opens with the new Disney100 logo, but on Disney+, the teaser trailer opens with the traditional castle logo.
- This film marks Alan Tudyk's third role in a live-action Disney film, after voicing K-2S0 in Rogue One and Iago in the 2019 live-action remake of Aladdin. It is also his second role in a live-action film under the Walt Disney Pictures banner after the latter film, as well as his first role in a live-action Disney+ original film.
- Morgan and Pip are the only characters from the first film to not have their original actors reprise their respective roles in the sequel. In this case, Morgan is portrayed by Gabriella Baldacchino in this film instead of Rachel Covey, while Pip is voiced by Griffin Newman instead of Jeff Bennett or Kevin Lima.
- Covey has a cameo in this film as the girl in Monrolasia who reminds Giselle that the festival is that night. ("For the festival? M'lady?")
- Nathaniel doesn't return in this film. This is due to the fact that he stays in New York, while the Philip family moves out of New York.
- The film's release date, November 18, is coincidentally also National Princess Day. This is to keep in mind that Giselle is a character notably inspired by Disney Princesses.
- It should also be noted that Giselle was once in consideration to be added into the official line-up, before plans were dropped. Due to the fact that Disney would have to pay royalties to Amy Adams in order to use her likeness.
- If you look closely in the illustration of Giselle and Robert exhausted on the couch from taking care of Sofia, there are some fashion designs and spools of thread, indicating that Giselle was still running Andalasia Fashions during this time.
- At the end of the film, as Pip goes to put the Disenchanted book back on the shelf, you can see a copy of his book Silence Isn't Golden from the first film two shelfs below.
- This film marked the first time that Morgan was seen in animated form, considering also that this was the first time Morgan was seen in Andalasia as well.
- Robert and Sofia were also both seen in animated form in this film, but only via flashbacks.
Easter Eggs[]
Just like in the previous film, this film is full of nods to other Disney films.
- In the animated prologue, when the camera sweeps through the castle of Andalasia, two characters resembling King Hubert and Queen Leah from Sleeping Beauty walk on the bridge.
- There is an animated character who looks similar to Cinderella in her peasant dress.
- In the village square of Andalasia, a fountain not unlike the one Belle sits near to read her book in Beauty and the Beast appears.
- In the same shot, if you listen closely, you can hear a woman saying, "Bonjour!" in reference to "Belle".
- In the prologue, when mentioning Giselle's backstory for the first time, it has been revealed that she is orphaned, just like Snow White, Cinderella, Anna and Elsa.
- In the same scene, Pip mentions that Robert and Giselle act like a sleeping curse had overpowered them every night, a reference to the same curse Snow White had in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
- The firefly who serves as Pip's lantern looks similar to Ray from The Princess and the Frog.
- Giselle and Robert's new daughter is named Sofia, quite likely in tribute to the titular character from Sofia the First.
- In a verse that was cut from "Even More Enchanted", but heard during the end credits, Giselle mentions some "Jiminy Crickets".
- In a deleted scene (shown in the trailer), Edward says that a year ago, Andalasia got trapped in the mouth of a giant whale, a reference to Monstro from Pinocchio.
- The set of Monrolasia has various puns and Easter Eggs on the building signs too numerous to list. But among them include:
- "Smee's Cheese"
- "A Whole Food World Grocers"
- "Mary Popover's Bakery"
- "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Butcher"
- "Beauty and the Book"
- "Lumiere's Candle Works"
- "Frozen Treats"
- The gardeners that Giselle meets when they first move into their home are transformed into fairies resembling Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty, and are even listed as such in the credits.
- In "Fairytale Life (After the Spell)":
- Morgan dances with the broomstick, not unlike the ones in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" sequence of Fantasia. The film is also referenced by name in the song.
- This could also be a nod to when Merryweather made the mop and broom move when cleaning their cottage in Sleeping Beauty.
- The broom sweeping the dust under the carpet is a slight reference to the squirrels using their tails to sweep the dust under the rug during "Whistle While You Work" in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
- This could also be a nod to when Merryweather made the mop and broom move when cleaning their cottage in Sleeping Beauty.
- The appliances and silverware all sing not unlike the enchanted objects in Beauty and the Beast.
- Some of Giselle's operatic trills (courtesy of Laura Dickinson) pay homage to Snow White, including one phrase based on her vocalizations from "With a Smile and a Song".
- The lyric "Life is all one big fantasia," is a nod to Fantasia.
- When the citizens of Monrolasia get in a kick line, they sing "Come be our guest, be our guest!"
- Morgan dances with the broomstick, not unlike the ones in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" sequence of Fantasia. The film is also referenced by name in the song.
- Edgar transforms into a Magic Mirror similar to the one from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
- In the dress shop, Belle, Aurora, Snow White, and Cinderella's dresses are seen on mannequins as well as glass displays of a rose, an apple, and a pumpkin.
- The magic Scroll is voiced by Alan Tudyk, who, since Wreck-It Ralph, has become somewhat of a mainstay and good luck charm with Disney. The Ed Wynn-like voice he provides for the scroll is similar to the voice given to King Candy.
- The scroll asks Giselle if she saw falling flower petals, in reference to the Enchanted Rose from Beauty and the Beast.
- Giselle's transformation into a "wicked stepmother" has shades of Lady Tremaine from Cinderella. When Giselle tells Morgan the list of chores she must do before going to the festival, it is pretty much exactly the same way Lady Tremaine listed the chores for Cinderella in the bedroom chamber scene.
- Giselle wielding the Andalasian wishing wand is a nod to Lady Tremaine having the Fairy Godmother's wand in possession in Cinderella III: A Twist in Time.
- Giselle says that "villains you don't know who are villains until it's too late" don't count as villains, a subtle swipe at the recent trend in Disney films with characters, such as King Candy, Prince Hans, Yokai, Bellwether, and Ernesto de la Cruz.
- Pip's transformation into an "evil cat" is a nod to Lucifer.
- Near the end of "Perfect", Morgan sits atop a wagon in a pose like Ariel, and water splashes behind her (from a lady with a bucket) like the end of the reprise to "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid.
- A shopkeeper in the marketplace in Monrolasia says "sugar, dates, and pistachios!", just as another does to Jasmine in 1992's Aladdin.
- Morgan meeting Tyson, dressed as a peasant, in the town square mirrors the 1997 version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella as well as the 2015 live-action film.
- Giselle pushing Morgan down into the well is reminiscent of Narissa pushing Giselle down into the fountain in the first movie.
- During "Badder":
- Malvina says she is the mistress of evil and thereby compares herself to Maleficent.
- Giselle and Malvina mention Maleficent and Cruella De Vil.
- In Malvina's cabinet, she has possession of the Drink Me Bottle from Alice in Wonderland.
- Malvina also possesses a Poisoned Apple, which was not only used in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but also in the first film.
- Malvina also has the Spinning Wheel from Sleeping Beauty, as well as the Enchanted Rose from Beauty and the Beast.
- Giselle's carriage, which looks similar to the one she emerged from in Andalasia in the first film, is based on the carriage from the end of Cinderella.
- Morgan falls into a sleeping curse, just like Snow White, Aurora and her own stepmother, Giselle.
- In Andalasia, Morgan pushes back a strand of her hair, which was a habit done by Belle. (This was based on something her voice actress, Paige O'Hara, often did while recording her lines.)
- During "Love Power", Giselle's memory tree transforms Morgan's rags into a beautiful ballgown, in homage to Marc Davis's legendary animation of Cinderella's transformation.
- Also in "Love Power", Nancy sings "Let it glow, let it grow", a nod to "Let It Go" from Frozen, which was also sung by Nancy's actress, Idina Menzel.
- The magical leaves that rotated around Nancy and Morgan is a reference to Pocahontas.
- Tyson's prince outfit is similar to Prince Eric's.
- One of his outdoor outfits as the prince bears a resemblance to the outfit of The Prince from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
- Morgan's ragged dress, when it was seen in animated form in Andalasia, looks similar to Cinderella's dress, after it was torn by her stepsisters.
- When Giselle mentioned that stepdaughters live in attics or dungeons, this is a reference to Cinderella and Snow White.
- At the ball, Ruby and Rosaleen wear dresses based on the ones worn by Anastasia and Drizella, respectively.
- Their transformations into toads might be in reference to a similar transformation in Cinderella III: A Twist in Time.
- It could also be a reference to The Princess and the Frog.
- Their transformations into toads might be in reference to a similar transformation in Cinderella III: A Twist in Time.
- The way that Morgan escaped her room is similar to how Belle attempted to escape in the 2017 live-action reimagining of Beauty and the Beast.
- The way she also climbed down is a slight reference to Tangled.
References[]
- ↑ 'Enchanted' to see second chapter
- ↑ Exclusive Alan Menken Interview - Tangled, Musical Comedy TV Series, Enchanted 2 and Snow Queen
- ↑ Exclusive: James Marsden on Hop
- ↑ Disney Casts ‘Enchanted 2′ Spell With ‘Smurfs’ Scribes
- ↑ Enchanted Sequel Moving Forward at Disney as Disenchanted
- ↑ Enchanted 2 Script Nearly Done; Includes ‘A Lot More Songs’
- ↑ Christina Radish (March 7, 2018). "Adam Shankman on ‘Step Up: High Water’ and The Status of the ‘Enchanted’ Sequel". Retrieved on April 30, 2018. “As planned right now, there’s more singing and dancing than there was in the first one, and it’s all original music, with Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz coming back to do it.”
- ↑ Alan Menken about the new 'Aladdin', 'The Little Mermaid' remake and the 'Enchanted' sequel
- ↑ Enchanted's Stephen Schwartz offers promising update on long-awaited sequel Disenchanted
- ↑ Adam Shankman To Direct ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Still on Board To Direct ‘Enchanted’ Sequel
- ↑ Alan Menken Confirms All The Music For The Live-Action Adaptation of ‘The Little Mermaid’ Have Been Recorded
- ↑ Talk Back with Alan Menken (2020)
- ↑ Disney (December 10, 2020). "[Confirmation of Disenchanted on Twitter]". Retrieved on December 11, 2020.
- ↑ Sharpe, Josh (April 23, 2021). "Exclusive: New Story Details for ‘Disenchanted’; Seven Dwarfs Will Appear". Retrieved on April 24, 2021.
- ↑ Sequel: Patrick Dempsey Gives Update on ‘Disenchanted’ and a Possible Filming Date
- ↑ "Maya Rudolph, Yvette Nicole Brown & Jayma Mays Joining Disney+’s ‘Enchanted’ Sequel ‘Disenchanted’". Deadline (April 26, 2021).
- ↑ De Giere, Carol (May 14, 2021). "The Schwartz Scene Issue 70 – Spring 2021".
- ↑ Menzel, Idina (November 16, 2022). "So excited to share a sneak peek of my new song #LovePower from Disney’s #Disenchanted. The single is available tonight and Disenchanted arrives this Friday on @DisneyPlus. Pre-save now at the link in my bio.". Retrieved on November 16, 2022.
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