Disney returns to princess fare with this cheeky Rapunzel retelling.

Walt Disney Animation once again embraces traditional "princess" fare with Tangled, a cheeky retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Rapunzel. In this more action-oriented musical comedy, Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) is a princess who was abducted as a baby and raised as a virtual prisoner in a remote castle by the evil witch, Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy). Rapunzel boasts 70 feet of magic, golden hair -- hair that keeps Mother from aging.

Having spent her entire life within the tower (with just Mother and the tiny, silent chameleon Pascal for company), Rapunzel is full of curiosity about the outside world. One day while Mother Gothel is away, Rapunzel is frightened by a surprise visitor coming through her window, the dashing, roguish bandit Flynn Rider (voiced by Chuck's Zachary Levi). Flynn is on the run from his brutish former cohorts, the Stabbington Brothers (one of whom is voiced by Ron Perlman), after escaping with a jeweled tiara they had stolen.

Following their meet-cute introduction, Rapunzel and Flynn make a deal. He will escort her through the wilderness to the kingdom, where she'll finally get to behold the annual festival of lights. (This festival, held on what is the unsuspecting Rapunzel's birthday, is in remembrance of the lost princess.) In exchange, Rapunzel will give Flynn back the stolen tiara she's hidden from him.

Rapunzel and Flynn find themselves on the run from not only the Stabbington Brothers and Mother Gothel, but also from the royal guards (and one very determined horse named Maximus) who want Flynn in custody. As Rapunzel and Flynn grow more attracted to one another, the question becomes whether Flynn will succumb to his bad boy ways and betray her trust.

Tangled, renamed from Rapunzel seemingly in an attempt to not seem like another Disney "princess" flick aimed strictly towards girls, is a very funny, handsomely produced CG-animated toon that looks like a throwback to more traditional, hand-drawn animation but with the fluidity allowed by modern technology. Coupled with 3D, the end result is an immersive experience featuring the best of both schools of animation. Disney cartoons, though, are marked not only by their technical excellence, but also by the quality of their storytelling and characters. That's where Tangled is a mixed bag.

The repartee between Rapunzel and Flynn is clever and sharp, and there's good chemistry between them. Flynn is an extremely charming rogue, just pompous enough to laugh at and whose change of heart towards Rapunzel is believable and slowly earned. Mother Gothel nearly steals the show, with her overprotective tyranny being made to seem almost rational through some of her sly exchanges with the naive young princess. Mother also gets one of the film's biggest musical numbers, which Murphy nails.

Disney vet Alan Menken once again provides the music (with lyrics by Glenn Slater). While there are plenty of catchy tunes here, none of them are as truly memorable as those in Menken's The Little Mermaid, Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast. But it's still fun stuff that allows Levi to show off his impressive pipes opposite Moore. (I can foresee Tangled becoming Disney's next Broadway sensation a la The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast.)

Tangled might not ultimately be a modern Disney classic like some of the aforementioned animated films, but it's nevertheless a lot of fun, full of humor, adventure, good music!

Utterly charming, uplifting, heartfelt and adventurous

(**** out of ****) Sure, maybe a couple of the songs may feel 'tacked on' or a bit 'pop-ish' like Enchanted, but all in all this movie is a gem ! The animation is positively glorious and the story is marvelous. It is the story of Rapunzel that we all know and love, but with a few twists and turns along the way. It's outstanding, and even caused the waterworks to flow with me, if you can believe it. Mandy Moore was a perfect choice for Rapunzel and hunky Zack Levi (on whom I have a crush) plays the dashing Flynn Rider. Pascal the chameleon and Maximillian the horse provide great animal comedy, but I feel that Max steals the show on many accounts in many different scenes. It is a film all can enjoy and the message at its core is one that all people will appreciate. If you are a fan of Disney storytelling at its best, then don't pass this one up. Definitely a must-see, and I could watch it again and again.

Gotta see this one! One laugh after another. One of Disney's best ev

This 50th Disney Animated Feature is truly a gem! I laughed and laughed, and was ready to watch it again as soon as it was over! Singing voices were better than usual, so leave it to Alan Menken to create another stellar soundtrack. Pixar has come a long way in CGI animation since Toy Story. So with a fantasy story unencumbered by history or any expectations of reality, add a sidekick animal that is smarter than the average hoodlum, and remember the never-ending theme that love conquers all, and you can mark this as one of the best, right up there with Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast! Great movie for the whole family! Bravo!!!

Grandpa Wins the Battle For Best Christmas Present!

Speaking as a grandparent who has child care duties for our 3 year old expert on all things Princessy, this is a fine addition to the franchise. Tangled has been watched about a dozen times since Christmas day, and she has not begun to tire of it at all. The good news is it will not drive the adults in house completely bonkers after repeated viewings. When my daughter was small I knew every line of dialogue and every song from the Little Mermaid, and I have a feeling I'll know Tangled just as well with my granddaughter. So be a hero and buy this for your youngster for Valentine's Day. In a toddler's eyes, this DVD plus a Repunzel doll will top whatever high dollar gift the other relatives give. Your can get both on ebay for $25-$30. I'll let you know if there is a finite number of times a DVD can be played.

Definatly a MUST SEE film. Loved It. Super Cute!

This is an instant classic Disney princess movie. I loved the characters (especially Pascal, the chameleon) and thoroughly enjoyed the whole movie. This is really a new classic on par with such movies as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. I would really recommend this to all families and people like me who love the movies from when they were kids!