Enchanted

After a disappointing third instalment of the Shrek franchise (known for poking fun at Disney), it seems the studio may have had the last laugh with this romantic fantasy. Amy Adams (Julie & Julia) plays Giselle, who in the brief animated first segment is searching for her prince, and finds him in the form of Edward (James Marsden). But he has a wicked stepmother (Susan Sarandon) who has no intention of giving up her privileged place in the kingdom in favour of her future daughter-in-law, so (as animation gives way to live action) transports Giselle to a spot where there are no happy endings - New York, of course. So begins this sweet and funny tale of a fish out of water in the Big Apple. Complete with an eye-popping production number in Central Park, sly digs at every established fairy-tale cliché (from Little Red Riding Hood to Snow White) and a witty script, this certainly boasts a wide-ranging appeal. If anything, the crash-bang-wallop CGI ending is rather overblown, but thankfully it's the simple charm and humour of the tale that lingers in the memory.