One of the best things about being a mum blogger is getting a sneak peak at films before they are released. Sometimes I even get to go on press junkets, and meet the talent behind the films and ask all sort of mum-type questions. I love it!
The girls and I recently saw Disney's 50th animated film, Tangled. It is the story of Rapunzel. You know the one, where a gorgeous girl with long hair is stuck in a tower and is rescued by a handsome prince?
It sounds terribly twee and predictable, doesn't it?
It's not! Disney turned this tale on its head. Yes it has the signature princess, but it is much more. The film touches on issues as such child abduction, a mother's love, growing up and there are even some spiritual tones.
Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) is born a princess with hair that possess healing abilities (the spiritual bit). As a baby, she is taken by the villain, Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy), who wants to use Rapunzel's magical hair to keep herself immortal. Rapunzel comes to love her "mother" and will do anything to please her. But as Rapunzel's 18th birthday approaches, she asks to venture beyond the tower, and of course Mother Gothel refuses. The King and Queen are heartbroken and continue to search for their baby girl. Every year in hope of finding their abducted child they launch thousands of floating lanterns on her birthday. Rapunzel has noticed that every year on her birthday the sky is full of lights, and she wants to see them up close. Enter womaniser/rogue/thief Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi). After a hairy start, the two go out in search of the lanterns. I'm not going to tell you the ending, but I cried twice. I hate it when I cry at animated films.
Tangled has some fantastic supporting characters, such as a dog-like horse called Maximus and a chameleon called Pascal (think Jiminy Cricket).
The film is my nine-year-old's favourite, she liked it better than Princess and the Frog and Toy Story 3. She's just at the age of starting wonder at the wider world around her, and I think the themes of growing up and having more independence really resonated with her.
There is a dark side to this film, and one that is more real and in some ways more scary than some of the other Disney villains. My five-year-old, who does not frighten easily, crawled into my lap in the scene when Rapunel confronts Mother Gothel and tells her she is the missing princess, and not her daughter. Mother Gothel truly becomes evil and locks Rapunzel in chains and stabs Flynn with a knife.
The producer and directors both glossed over what I thought was one of the most powerful themes: child abduction. I kept thinking about the McCanns, and their continued search for Madeleine, and hoped that they would have the same happy ending.
The film is a musical, and academy award-winning composer Alan Menken (18 nominations and 8 awards) has created some fantastic songs. My favourite is I See the Light; I'm sure it will become a classic. My daughter's favourite is When Will My Life Begin. Mother Knows Best is very fun, as is I Have a Dream.
A word about 3D: all Disney animated films are released in a 3D version, and there is some good use of the technology; expecially the scene with 50,000 floating lanterns. 3D does not take over, it adds to the experience, which is exactly what you want it to do.
As for the ending: you can't abduct babies and get away with it!
Tangled is in cinemas in the UK starting 28th January.
