Disenchanted is a 2022 American live-action/animated musical fantasy comedy film directed by Adam Shankman and written by Brigitte Hales, based on a story conceived by Richard LaGravenese and the writing team of J. David Stem and David N. Weiss. Co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures, Josephson Entertainment, and Right Coast Productions, it is the sequel to the 2007 film Enchanted.
Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, and Idina Menzel reprise their roles from the first film, with newcomer Gabriella Baldacchino taking over for Rachel Covey (who makes a cameo as a different character). New cast members include Maya Rudolph, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jayma Mays, Kolton Stewart, Oscar Nunez, and Griffin Newman. Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz return as the film's songwriters, while Menken also composed the score, and Adams served as a producer of the film alongside Barry Josephson and Barry Sonnenfeld.
Talks of an Enchanted sequel began in early 2010, but the project languished in development hell for several years. By 2017, it was announced Adams had signed on to reprise her role and filming was set to begin that summer, but it never came to fruition. The film was officially announced in December 2020, with the cast joining in spring 2021 and filming taking place in Ireland between May and July that year.
Disenchanted premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on November 16, 2022, and was released in the United States via Disney+ on November 18. Unlike its predecessor, the film received generally mixed reviews from critics, who mostly praised Adams's performance but felt it lacked the charm of the original.
Plot[]
In 2017, Giselle, Robert, and Morgan Philip are living happily together with their baby Sofia. However, life in Manhattan is starting to drag on them, so Giselle plans to move the family to Monroeville, a suburban town. The moving brings poor first experiences for them: their new house needs renovations, Robert has to commute to continue his job, and Morgan feels like an outcast at her new school.
King Edward and Queen Nancy visit from Andalasia to present them with a wish-granting wand. Giselle meets Malvina Monroe, the arrogant head of the town council, and learns that she is hosting a fairytale-themed ball, where Malvina's son Tyson is the ball's elected prince. To help Morgan fit in, Giselle tries to get her elected as the ball's princess but ends up unintentionally embarrassing her, resulting in a falling out between them.
After consulting with her chipmunk friend Pip, Giselle decides to use the wand to wish her family's life to be a "perfect fairy tale". By the next day, the town has transformed into a fantasy kingdom called Monrolasia. Morgan is happy with their new life, and Robert believes himself to be a brave adventurer. Malvina is now the town's evil queen with magical powers. Giselle also discovers uncharacteristically haughty behavior and finds pleasure in mistreating Morgan. Realizing she is slowly turning into a wicked stepmother, she asks for help from the magic wand's instruction scroll. The scroll reveals Giselle's wish is using up Andalasia's magic to change the real world into a fairy tale and that it will become permanent after midnight.
Malvina learns about the magic wand and enlists her two servants, Rosaleen and Ruby, to steal it; however, the scroll tells her that the wand can only be used by a "true Andalasian". Giselle realizes that without the wand, she will lose herself to her wicked side, so she convinces Morgan to save them before sending her to Andalasia through a well.
There, Morgan learns that the kingdom's magic is transported to Monrolasia through a vortex, and once the spell becomes permanent, Andalasia will be gone forever. Nancy and Edward suggest she use the magic of their memories to remind Giselle of her true self. Morgan recreates a childhood drawing of their family tree with pictures of their shared memories, then heads back to the real world with Nancy.
Giselle, now under the influence of her evil personality, challenges Malvina for the royal title of Monrolasia. She sends Pip, who has been turned into a tabby cat, to steal back the wand while also sending Robert on an assumed futile search for Morgan. At the ball, Giselle and Malvina engage in a magic duel, with the former easily overpowering the latter. Morgan and Nancy meet up with Robert and Tyson before rushing into the town hall to stop the duel. Morgan tosses her drawing to Giselle, who rips it, but the magic within brings the memories to life, restoring Giselle to normal.
Not wanting the spell to be broken, Malvina takes Morgan hostage and demands the wand in exchange, which Giselle surrenders. As midnight approaches, everything from Andalasia begins to disappear, including Giselle herself. While Robert and Tyson head to the top of the clock tower to delay the final chime, Giselle tells Morgan that by being her daughter, she is a true Andalasian, therefore capable of using the wand. Morgan wishes she were home with her mother just as Malvina attempts to make the clock tower chime before it is destroyed.
Morgan awakens in their house and finds everything normal again. Only she and Giselle are aware of the events, while everyone else believes it to be a dream. Giselle apologizes to Malvina for stepping over her plans, so Malvina allows her to join the town council. Some time later, Robert has moved his practice to Monroeville, Morgan and Tyson have started dating, and Nancy and Edward arrive for another visit to the Philips in their now happy life.
Cast[]
- Amy Adams as Giselle Philip, Robert's wife, Morgan's stepmother, and Sofia's mother. Her Monrolasia counterpart has her slowly becoming like the wicked stepmother from Cinderella.
- Patrick Dempsey as Robert Philip, a lawyer who is Giselle's husband and Morgan's and Sofia's father. His Monrolasia counterpart works as a knight.
- Maya Rudolph as Malvina Monroe, a realtor and the snooty head of Monroeville's town council. Her Monrolasia counterpart is similar to the Evil Queen.
- Yvette Nicole Brown as Rosaleen, a sensible woman who is one of Malvina's assistants. Her Monrolasia counterpart works for Queen Malvina.
- Jayma Mays as Ruby, a dimwitted woman who is one of Malvina's assistants. Her Monrolasia counterpart works for Queen Malvina.
- Gabriella Baldacchino as Morgan Philip, Robert's 16-year-old daughter, Sofia's older half-sister, and Giselle's stepdaughter. Baldacchino replaced Rachel Covey, who originally played Morgan in the first film.
- Idina Menzel as Nancy Tremaine, Edward's wife and Queen of Andalasia
- James Marsden as Edward, Nancy's husband and King of Andalasia
Additionally, Oscar Nunez appears as Edgar, a barista and Malvina's informant whose Monrolasia counterpart is a Magic Mirror that Queen Malvina owns. Kolton Stewart portrays Tyson Monroe, Malvina's son and Morgan's love interest, and later boyfriend whose Monrolasia counterpart is a prince. Griffin Newman provides the voice of Pip, a chipmunk friend of Giselle and the narrator of the film. Unlike the first film, Pip is able to speak in both the real world and Andalasia through magic. Newman replaces Jeff Bennett and Kevin Lima from the first film. Alan Tudyk provides the voice of the talking scroll. James Monroe Iglehart, Michael McCorry Rose, and Ann Harada portray a weary businessman, a disgruntled businessman, and a sardonic businesswoman, Robert's fellow train commuters whose Monrolasia counterparts are a baker, a sign painter, and a florist respectively. Rachel Covey, who portrayed Morgan in the first film, has a cameo as a Monrolasia native. Twins Mila and Lara Jackson play Robert and Giselle's one-year-old daughter Sofia. Jodi Benson, who played Sam, the secretary at Robert's law firm in the first film, filmed a scene for the sequel, but it was ultimately cut.