Chaos and Chuckles: Enchanted Unleashes Kevin Lima’s Fairy-Tale Frenzy

Enchanted, released November 21, 2007, by Walt Disney Pictures, is a $85 million musical fantasy that grossed $340 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo, a holiday hit blending animation and live-action. Directed by Kevin Lima, with a script by Bill Kelly, it stars Amy Adams as Giselle, a cartoon princess thrust into New York City, clashing with Patrick Dempsey’s Robert Philip, a divorce lawyer. James Marsden’s Prince Edward and Susan Sarandon’s Queen Narissa chase her, shot across NYC and animated in 2D over two years. Its 107-minute runtime nabbed three Oscar nods for its Alan Menken-Stephen Schwartz songs.

The chaos sparkles—Giselle’s “True love’s kiss” lands in Manhattan’s grit, cockroaches clean her mess, per its $127 million domestic haul. Lima, post-Tarzan, flips Disney tropes—fairy-tale glee meets urban cynicism in a Mary Poppins-meets-Elf romp. Chuckles reign—Giselle’s “Oh my!” at divorce, Edward’s “Have you seen my fiancée?”—easing the clash, per Variety’s “delightful.” Critics cheered; Rotten Tomatoes hit 93%, Metacritic 75/100, with LA Times’s Carina Chocano calling it “a charmer.” X posts since 2020 coo “Amy’s magic,” though some yawn “too sweet.”

The pacing’s a waltz—Andalasia’s cartoon dawn twirls into Central Park’s showdown, Narissa’s dragon turn a giddy peak, per Hollywood Reporter. Its $85 million budget fueled Menken’s tunes and a 10-minute animated opening, per The Numbers, topping Fred Claus for Thanksgiving cheer. It’s Lima’s frenzy—chaos with whimsy, chuckles amid enchantment—a fairy-tale twist that revived Disney’s sparkle.

The cast is Enchanted’s spellbook, a chaotic crew casting joy. Amy Adams’s Giselle glows—her “That’s How You Know” twirl and “I’ve been dreaming” naiveté enchant, per Empire’s “star-making.” Patrick Dempsey’s Robert grounds—his “This isn’t a fairy tale” grump to “I’m falling for her” thaw warms, per Roger Ebert’s “steady.” Their clash—princess meets realist—lifts the chaos, per Variety. James Marsden’s Edward preens—“I’m so handsome!”—his gallantry a riot, per Rolling Stone.

Susan Sarandon’s Narissa hisses—“No more happy endings”—her vampish glee chills, per LA Times. Timothy Spall’s Nathaniel grovels, Idina Menzel’s Nancy shines—her “Ever Ever After” nod crisp. Chuckles soar—Giselle’s “Animals are my friends,” Edward’s “Destiny calls!”—weaving levity into whimsy, per The Guardian. NY Times hails “Adams’s radiance,” X posts cheer “Marsden’s prince,” though some snipe “Dempsey’s stiff.” They’re the frenzy’s beating heart—vibrant, vivid, victorious.

Visually and sonically, Enchanted is a chaotic delight, a Lima lark. Don Burgess’s cinematography—Andalasia’s 2D gleam, NYC’s gray bustle—dazzles, per Cinematography World. Chaos pops—pigeons swarm, Narissa’s dragon roars—shot with $30 million VFX and James Baxter’s hand-drawn start, per Forbes. Park dances, a ballroom glow—Letterboxd’s “gorgeous”—though Collider flags “CGI dated” in 2025 eyes. Lima’s 102 Dalmatians flair crafts a fairy-tale mash, per AV Club’s “lively.”

Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz’s score—“Happy Working Song” chirps, “So Close” sways—nabs nods, per Soundtrack World’s “timeless.” Sound design—rats scurry, swords clang—grips, per Rolling Stone’s “bouncy.” Chuckles bubble—Nathaniel’s “Poison apples!”—amid chaos, per BBC vibe. Flaws? VFX age—Variety’s “patchy”—and songs lean broad, per NY Times. Still, it’s a sensory charm—visuals and sound an enchanted anthem that sings.

Enchanted’s strength is its chaotic glee—a fairy tale with bite. Adams’s “luminous” Giselle (Time), Marsden’s zest, and Lima’s craft shine; Roger Ebert gave 3.5/4 for “pure fun.” Stakes—love’s leap, Narissa’s fall—tug, per Empire’s “sweet.” Chuckles—Giselle’s “What’s a date?”—lift a 2007 Thanksgiving slot post-Ratatouille, per Box Office Mojo. Its $340 million haul outdid Beowulf’s $196 million—X posts still hum “That’s How You Know”—birthing Disenchanted (2022), per Forbes.

Weaknesses flutter. The 107-minute runtime dips—Variety’s “laggy”—and Robert’s arc thins, per LA Times. Sap swells—Metacritic’s 75/100 flags “sugary”—and finale rushes, per NY Times. Still, it grips; Rolling Stone’s “near-perfect” fits 8.5/10—frenzied, fairy-tale fun. Legacy? A Disney gem—Disenchanted, musical nods, per The Numbers. For romantics or Disney fans, it’s a must; an enchantment that endures.