It’s been fifteen years since Disney released one of its best, and most criminally underrated, films of all time–Enchanted.

   Enchanted follows Giselle (Amy Adams), a lovely lady who lives in the fairy tale land of Andalasia. But, after her wedding with Prince Edward (James Marsden) goes haywire thanks to his evil stepmother pushes her into a wishing well, she enters a land with no happily ever after–New York City. However, she finds her place in NYC after falling in love with a divorce lawyer named Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and befriending his storybook-loving daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey in the original and Gabriella Baldacchino in the sequel).

   The film became a beloved cult classic, with viewers falling in love with Amy Adams’ whimsical portrayal of Giselle and parody of Disney princess film tropes. When the sequel Disenchanted was announced in 2021, fans were eager to see what the sequel would have to offer.

   Disenchanted picks up ten years after Giselle and Robert’s happily ever after, when the lovebirds and Morgan decide to move from the city to a fairy-tale suburb called Monroeville. However, when their new home isn’t as expected, Giselle decides to make a wish that turns her new town as well as home in Andalasia upside down.

   The film continues the charm of the original, entrancing viewers in Disney fantasy with easter eggs and references galore. The music is a mix of classic Disney and Broadway, with over twice the number of songs as Enchanted. The movie/musical feel of the film was definitely a contrast from the “less is better” song approach of the first, but differentiates it in a way that is both new and exciting for viewers.

   Amy Adams continues to shine in her role as Giselle, with her dual personality as perky princess and wicked stepmother showing the true range of her acting. It is reminiscent of Wanda from Marvel’s WandaVision, as she twisted reality to create the life she wanted while endangering the people around herself in the process.

   Idina Menzel was able to demonstrate her talent more than the first, with her song Love Power showcasing her powerful vocals. Her song was a complete showstopper, and was hands down the best part of the film.

   While Disenchanted is certainly an entertaining watch, it isn’t without its downfalls. Patrick Dempsey’s character is underused, with other characters taking his spotlight when he was a star of the original. I also wasn’t a fan of Morgan’s teenage angst, with her distaste of Giselle’s singing and fairy tales seeming very cliche. Who knew becoming a teenager gets rid of all of your personality and turns you into a sarcastic and annoying demon?

   Giselle’s character also made little sense. In the original, she starts becoming accustomed to NYC and that’s why there’s less songs towards the end of the movie. This is completely flipped in the sequel, with there being few moments Adams doesn’t sing, and it just feels like poor writing.

   While cliche and flawed, Disenchanted excels as a sequel, continuing the original with theatrics and heart. The mother-daughter dynamic between Adams and Baldacchino brought me to tears and was the emotional core of the film. 

   I would highly recommend Disenchanted to fans of the original, Disney fans, and Broadway fans alike. The performances, music, and emotion make the film, while different from the original, a lovely successor.