The films starts as many other Disney cartoons do, with a story book opening to a fairy tale world where animals help the princess to be make her clothing, where everyone sings and where love just happens instantly.

When fairytale princess, Giselle (Amy Adams) gets thrown into 21st Century New York on the morning of her wedding, she comes down to Earth with a bump. It's only when Robert and his daughter save her from falling off a billboard of a fairytale castle, that she finally gets a friendly welcome, kind of.

Riding to her rescue, Prince Edward (James "Spike" Marsden) and her friend Pip (a chipmonk) follow her to New York, where they stab a vile metal monster with a sword, otherwise known as a bus.

It seems that even in New York, the local wildlife knows how to tidy up and make clothing for the princess, though in New York the wildlife available are rats, piegeons and cockroaches. It is also clear that although now outside the 2D kingdom - spontaneous singing and dance routines are possible, much to the surprise of Robert - a divorce lawyer.

This is a charming and ridiculously cheesy family film but one that had me laughing throughout. The most painful part was probably the cartoon part at the beginning - though important to the storyline - it was so OTT it hurt. Perhaps I'm just not used to singing in films anymore.

A fun family film that most young (and young at heart) girls will enjoy, but most parents will get on another level which will make it bearable even for Dads - the first time anyway!

see also:
Arthur Christmas, Up, Flushed Away, Cloudy with a chance of meatballs

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photo © Disney.