Disney enters the Third Dimension

The economy sucks.  Michael Jackson's dead.  And a winter that by all accounts should be benefiting from global warming (but isn't) is knocking at our doorstep.  What does a struggling young couple need to keep thinking positively in a world pressing in on all sides?


A good goddamn Disney flick.


One with a princess.  A charming rogue.  A villainy villain/ess.  And an impossibly happy ending.


So, I smiled over gritted teeth and thrust forth my precious wages for Disney's latest attempt at a classic. And...well, it occurs to me that Disney "classics" cannot be reproduced.  Like Captain America's super-soldier serum.  Both are products of a bygone era.  You can tell, because when I would lean over to kiss my girlfriend during the movie, she looked like she was from the future, courtesy of 3-D glasses designed by Beebop from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles original animated series.  To her credit she wears them well.


But it's not the number of dimensions that make the difference.  It's retrospect.  Tangled isn't a Disney Classic for me; but it ought to be in ten years for kids seeing it today.  Seriously, this movie was awesome.  No, it's no Aladdin.  But only Aladdin could ever be as good as Aladdin.  Know what I mean?


Unlike the PT Cruiser, the visual design of Tangled is a tasteful blend of old and new styles. Looking back, I couldn't even tell if it was animated or computer generated (though it was certainly both).  And the 3-D was very cool.  Disney artists smoothly incorporated dazzling depth to the landscapes, action, and even to the emotion.  A suspicious number of Disney princesses are sheltered dreamers who long to see the world, and nothing gives the impression of a big wide world like 3-D.  Remember the carpet ride during "Whole New World", where Disney made an early utilization of CG to enhance the Chinese fireworks and Greek architecture?  Tangled takes that effort one big step further.


Tangled borrowed from the best.  The story, characters, and vocal direction weren't terribly original, rather, they were creative adaptations of a well-worked formula.  Cute anthropomophic animal BFFs? Check. Fast-moving romantic arc? Check.   If the songs weren't inspirational, no harm done - they were at least inoffensive, and fit naturally into the narrative of the film.  "Mother Knows Best" cleverly crafted a villainess almost every teenage daughter can recognize (and despise).  "I've Got a Dream" with Brad Garrett was the token comic track, and though not as catchy as "Friend like Me", was twice as redeeming.


Pixar makes great flicks, but if you've got the Disney itch,  Cars 2 probably won't cut it.  Instant coffee?  Ew. Instant classic?  No such thing.  "Happy ever after" is a lot to ask.  But we left Tangled happy - and considering the state of the union/world, and the 26 dollar admission price - "happy" is saying a lot.