Tangled
Directed by: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard; Voices: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy. Rating: 8/10WHY has a story about Rapunzel, the princess with the endless mane of hair, been given such an odd name for its Disney reinvention?Word on the street is that the megabucks moviemaker has learned from the (relative) box office failure of 2009's The Princess and the Frog that when it comes to little boys, they tend to stay away in their droves whenever the 'P' word appears in the title of a film.Regardless the machinations of its substantial marketing machine, Disney has a modern-day classic on its hands with this 3D charmer set to hit the spot with a suitably wide demographic – boys and all.After receiving the healing powers from a magical flower, the baby Princess Rapunzel (Moore) is kidnapped from the palace in the middle of the night by Mother Gothel (Murphy). Gothel knows the flower's magical powers are now growing within the golden hair of Rapunzel – so to stay young she locks an oblivious Rapunzel in her hidden tower.Fast-forward to the teenage years and Rapunzel is now on the cusp of her eighteenth birthday. She's just like any other curious teenager (apart from the fact she's locked in a tower and spends longer than most combing her 70ft-long hair). The beautiful lass is intrigued by the outside world in general and a magical lantern show which coincides with her birthday every year.Cue the unexpected arrival of loveable bandit Flynn Ryder (Levi) who scales the tower while escaping from some thugs. In a twist on the tale, Rapunzel takes him prisoner and strikes a deal with the charming thief to act as her guide to travel to the place where the floating lights come from...Along the way, look out for a very entertaining horse named Maximus, a worldly wise chameleon called Pascal and a bunch of ruffians who have a dream. Throw in some magical special effects which make the most of 3D technology, a clutch of memorable songs and a running gag about frying pans and you have the recipe for a family-friendly funfest.
* Tangled is screening at Vue, Inverness. For screening times, see www.myvue.com
