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dayofreckonings t1_ix0jx5s wrote

I haven't finished the film yet but I feel like we don't have enough time to really delve into Morgan as a character before they are fairy-tale-ized. I think by making all of the characters lose their original selves due to the magic is no different from introducing entirely different characters, so it is a bit hard to follow the arc. I understand that Morgan pick up on her memories from the incident after but it's odd.

I think part of the original charm was putting fairytale characters in a foreign environment, so I think it lost a bit by choosing to remove all traces of suburbia. It was funny to make the cafe a throne room, I just wish there were more of these moments. The town already looked gorgeous to me before the transformation.

I almost wonder why they didn't have all of the characters have moments of recognition where they realized what was going on.

Still watching so these are just my thoughts right now

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elladon_ns t1_ix49qby wrote

Agree with each point you mentioned! As a result of that 'zapped into fairy tale' amnesia, we didn't get to explore much of each characters' conflict at all. Robert's crisis with purpose, Morgan trying to come into her own and Giselle wishing things were different could've been really compelling if they really went for it.

In the original film, Giselle could've returned to a life of 'happy ever after' but she chose the real world because she saw joy/magic in it and helped people around her see it as well despite the cynicism and bleakness. It was a big character journey for Robert (dealing with wife leaving and finding love) and Morgan (getting a mom who could embrace/understand her).

Each characters' arc in Disenchanted was not fully-realized. Giselle's mistake was that hasty wish but thereafter she didn't really have any agency. The fairy tale counterparts didn't add anything to their character arc, it disrupts it. What part of wicked stepmother reflects Giselle??

Since we know that everything will zap back to normal anyway, everything feels telegraphed and the stakes feel low (it even made some of the songs feel unnecessary and I love musicals!)

Without that strong character journey, there is no weight in the story. There is nothing wrong with predictability as long as we are invested in the characters' journey, but I didn't find myself to be here. I wish the movie had that same sincerity and charm the first one did since I was so excited for this one.

Wow I evidently (surprisingly) have a lot of thoughts about it fresh out of the movie. Oh well, the baddest song was still a banger though and lovely costumes/set!

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