The military uses a word, which is an acronym, in its internal reports. The word is BLUF which means Bottom Line Up Front. It means get to the point –NOW! So here is the BLUF for “Tangled:” See it.
The film’s producer is Glenn Keane of “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast” fame. And “Tangled” parentage shows literally in the first scene. This movie demonstrates what Disney does best – tell a story that everyone knows in a new and imaginative way. It is really good Disney and laugh out loud funny.
“Tangled” is certainly this year’s “Up!” It is bright, wonderfully written, beautifully sung and is surely a contender for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. This story of Rapunzel features a strong female lead voiced by Mandy Moore. Her Rapunzel is smart with a strong moral compass. She is the perfect compliment to her would be rescuer, Flynn, voiced by Zachary Levi (of NBC’s “Chuck”). But make no mistake about it, Rapunzel is no damsel in distress and that’s what makes the movie so enjoyable. No Disney movie is complete without a superb villain and “Tangled” is no different. The villain of this piece is a witch named Mother Gothel who to me bore a remarkable resemblance in both feature and voice to season six Counselor Deanna Troi of Star Trek – The Next Generation (played by Marina Sirtis). Whether it was by accident or design, Donna Murphy, who voiced Mother Gothel, was uncanny to me in channeling Sirtis.
“How to Train Your Dragon” still remains my number one movie of 2010, but barely. “Tangled” is that good. See it. You won’t be disappointed.