Tangled Blu-ray Review

• 13th May 2011

Disney hit their fiftieth animated classic with Tangled, the tale of Rapunzel. And boy, are they back on high form for it. We’re first introduced to Rapunzel’s parents, a kindly king and queen who use the healing power of a drop of sun that fell to earth and grew in the form of a flower. And when Rapunzel is born into the world she has golden hair that has the power to heal – as well as stave off old age.

It’s this very power that the vain Gothel is after and so she kidnaps the nipper and hides her in in a tower away from the world. Cut to the eve of Rapunzel’s 18^th birthday and she is just dying to get out into the world to see what’s there for herself. Around the same time, local thief, Flynn Rider happens upon her tower and she strikes up a bargain with him to act as her escort for a day. From here the adventure begins as the two make their way through many an escapade and slowly start to fall for one another as they go.

Alan Menkin is back on song duties and manages to come up with a couple of gems in “Mother Knows Best,” “I’ve Got a Dream” and the Oscar nominated “I See the Light.” The characters are also very entertaining and, as usual, Disney effortlessly manage to come up with a very imposing and dark villain, as well as some of their best supporting players, from the expressive, but mute, gecko sidekick Pascal to the hilarious horse, Maximus, who’s in pursuit of Rider.

This is a real return to the fairytale world that Disney has been all but absent from for too long, and Tangled easily fits right in with some of their best princess classics. Did I mention that the Blu-ray look and sound are tip-top? Well done Disney, full marks.

We’ll have to wait for the diamond edition to come along with the worthy set of extras – but what we do get is a small set of kiddie-friendly pieces that go behind the scenes of Tangled, as well as mentioning the fact that this is Disney’s fiftieth animated classic. So look out for a few short docs, a few deleted animatics and extended songs.

Steven Hurst