After 15 years, a sequel to the beloved Disney classic, Enchanted, has finally arrived. Taking place a decade after the first film, Disenchanted once again follows Giselle as she embarks on another magical adventure. The sequel was in development purgatory for many years, and for a time, seemed like was never going to happen. But it ended up happening, and it’s here with mixed results.
Back in 2007, Enchanted won over the hearts of its fans with its musical numbers, spectacular cast, and surprisingly effective storyline. It provided a modern twist on Disney fairy tales, poking fun at the genre while also lovingly embracing it. Disenchanted carried over some of that style and tone, but was it successful in bringing over all the magic? Between Disenchanted and Enchanted, let’s have a look at which one was the better movie.
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The Characters in Disenchanted vs. Enchanted
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Enchanted had a very lovable cast of characters that certainly left a lasting impression after watching the film. The actors were simply amazing, and Disenchanted was fortunately able to get their entire main cast back. Cast members Amy Adams (Giselle), Patrick Dempsey (Robert), James Marsden (Prince Edward), and Idina Menzel (Nancy) all reprised their roles for the sequel. However, Robert’s daughter Morgan, who was given a major role in Disenchanted, was recast and played by Gabriella Baldacchino (via Pop Sugar). Enchanted fans can catch the original Morgan, Rachel Covey, in a small cameo role in Monrolasia.
Unfortunately, the villains of Disenchanted didn’t have the same flare as the ones in the original. In Enchanted, Susan Sarandon played the evil Queen Narissa, who manipulated Timothy Spall’s Nathaniel into doing her bidding. Nathaniel even had his own arc, eventually turning against Narissa. Maya Rudolph is an excellent actress, but her villain in Disenchanted, Malvina Monroe, left more to be desired. She didn’t quite have the same level of impact that Queen Narissa had. Additionally, Monroe’s two henchwomen were not given much to do and were not nearly as interesting as Nathaniel.
Marsden has shown he is a natural in family-friendly comedies, recently appearing as Tom Wachowski in Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2. He had a large presence in Enchanted as Prince Edward, but had minimal screentime in Disenchanted. Edward was definitely missed while he stayed behind in Andalasia.
Disenchanted vs. Enchanted’s Story
The events of Disenchanted were set in motion after Giselle and Robert became disillusioned with life in the city. Leaving Manhattan for Monroeville, a small suburban town, their move did not go as well as expected. That was when Giselle used her magic wand to turn life into the perfect fairy tale. To the surprise of Giselle, the wish came with some unforeseen consequences. Giselle started to become a wicked stepmother, but this was an idea that Disenchanted never fully committed itself to. It also took time away from the real Giselle, who was far more magnetic on-screen. Years from now, people won’t really remember Adams as “Evil Giselle.”
However, Disenchanted had a strong premise that felt like a natural continuation of the Enchanted storyline. It tried to do something new rather than recreate the plot of the original. These were the same characters we fell in love with 15 years ago, only now at a different point in their lives. Disenchanted was very aware of the “wicked stepmother” trope, and fortunately decided to move in a different direction. The exploration of the mother-daughter relationship between Morgan and Giselle felt like a breath of fresh air.
For those who might have forgotten, Enchanted leaned heavily into the “fish out of water” trope. Queen Narissa banished Giselle to New York City, where the Disney princess had no idea of how the real world worked. That led to many hilarious moments, including Giselle spitting a fish into a glass from an aquarium. The chemistry and contrast between Giselle and the cynical divorce lawyer, Robert, was fantastic. Enchanted was able to tell a story about true love in a world said to have “no happily ever afters.”
Disenchanted vs. Enchanted’s Music
Broadway singer-actress Idina Menzel has been well-known for voicing Elsa in Disney’s Frozen and Frozen II. Her musical talent was sadly not utilized in Enchanted as she was cast in a non-singing role. Fortunately, that was changed for Disenchanted, with Menzel singing “The Magic of Andalasia” and the film’s standout song; “Love Power.” Menzel, however, was not the only great singer in Disenchanted. The film featured an excellent new Disney villain song in “Badder,” performed by Rudolph and Adams. It had perfect harmonies between wicked stepmother Giselle and the evil Queen Malvina.
Of course, Enchanted did not disappoint with its musical numbers either. The cheery “That’s How You Know” has remained one of the best songs about love in Disney live-action history. There was also the romantic “True Love’s Kiss,” a song Marsden began to sing before being run over by a group of cyclists. Other songs, like the uptempo “Happy Working Song” and beautiful “So Close,” helped make Enchanted something that was truly special.
Both Disenchanted and Enchanted shared the same composer: Alan Menken. Outside of the two films, Menken has done the music for The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, and even more Disney classics. Between Disenchanted and Enchanted, which movie had the better soundtrack comes down to personal preference. But the Enchanted soundtrack has more memorable songs overall.
Conclusion: The Sequel is Good, but the Original is Better
While not without its flaws, Disenchanted managed to succeed at many of the things it set out to do. The sequel brought back the characters of Enchanted, respecting them by not keeping them the same, but also not trying to turn them into something that they’re not. The light-hearted tone of the franchise remained intact while still portraying the many challenges of the real world. However, reviews for Disenchanted have been much more mixed (via Rotten Tomatoes). There was fun to be had, but Enchanted played more to Adams’ strengths, had a funnier script, and a more captivating storyline.
