Enchanted: A True Example of Romantic Comedy - Essay Example

Module Enchanted: A True Example of Romantic Comedy Introduction Romantic/screwball comedies are one of the most effective waysof removing worries and tensions of life. They bring a feeling of hope, beauty, joy and optimism in the heart of the audience. Hence, they are known to entertain as well as refresh the mood of a person. One such movie that entertains and fills a person’s heart with optimism is the movie called Enchanted. Enchanted is a movie that touches the heart of the audience with its fantasy like world, loving characters, colorful costumes and beautiful story line. It not only spreads the feeling of joy and magic, but also makes the audience laugh at the funny situations that story creates. The movie makes the audience experience everything beautiful and funny that life has to offer. Hence, due to its fantasy world characters, colorful costumes, romantic pursuits, music and dream like story, the movie not only fulfills all the genre requirement of romantic/screwball comedy, but provides all the attributes of romantic comedy in abundance and in generous way. Definition The movie Enchanted, which is directed by Kevin Lima, not only entertains the audience with laughter and romance, but also takes them on an exotic fantasy ride. With its attributes of romance and comedy, the movie can be truly called a romantic/screwball comedy. In conventional way, screwball comedy is defined as “a distinct genre of film comedy which lampoons on the private lives of members of the upper class” (Laham 25). In earlier days, the aim behind making screwball comedy films was to excite the audience by “thrusting the main characters of those movies into improbable and embarrassing romantic complications which belie their status as dignified and respected members of the upper class” (Laham 25). It is clear from the definition that a screwball comedy has elements of both romance and comedy. If we go by this definition, then the movie Enchanted has all the attributes of the screwball comedy genre. Moreover, according to communication studies professor Robert Miller, the fantasy that is shown in the screwball comedy makes the audience to forget their ‘real world,’ which is usually harsh, and make them believe in the movie’s message that life should be fun (Laham 25). This opinion can be experienced completely through the movie Enchanted. The movie is not only filled with romance and comedy but is full of magical happenings and twists. One can find almost all the genre requirements of romantic/screwball comedy, like fantasy, romantic triangle, music and songs, social class conflict etc., in the movie. Romantic/screwball comedy attributes There are innumerable attributes in the movie which can be called as romantic/screwball comedy attributes. Right from the loving characters, story line, romantic base and musical theme, everything in the movie symbolizes love, joy, happiness and fantasy. However, the most important attribute of the movie is the journey of the characters from the world of fantasy to the world of reality, which is portrayed through transition of characters from animation world to the real world. Transition of characters In the movie Enchanted, some of the lead characters are shown being forced from a land in animated world (called Andalasia) to the world of ‘reality,’ the New York City. This transition has proved to be one of the most interesting attribute of a romantic/screwball comedy. The lead character of the movie, Giselle, her romantic interest Prince Edward, Nanthaniel, Pip and Queen Narissa are shown transiting from the animation world (Andalasia) to the New York City. Their efforts to keep up with the customs and manners of real world are a great delight to watch. For example, when Giselle finds herself on the Times Square after being pushed by Narissa, she creates lot of flutter on the street. Her wedding dress creates a lot of problem for her as she dashes almost everyone with her dress while walking on the foot path. This causes a lot of laughter. Later, when Robert takes her home, she finds it difficult to enter the door with her huge dress. Finally, when Robert pushes her, half of her wedding dress gets stuck outside the door and half remains on her body when she falls on the floor. This episode of the wedding dress brings great joy. Similarly, Edward’s entry into real world and his movements through the street also generate a lot of laughter. For example, he starts singing whenever he feels like expressing his feelings, which is most of the times. He jumps from one place to another in no time forgetting that he is no more in Andalasia. When he jumps down from the bridge on seeing Giselle in the park, he doesn’t care to look around and causes an accident with the cyclists. It is a hilarious scene. In this way, there are many instances in the movie that bring laughter and joy to the audience. Another romantic/screwball attribute in the movie is the romantic story line. Romantic complication According to the definition of the screwball comedy, one of the aspects of the romantic/screwball genre is the complications in the romantic relationship. The movie ‘Enchanted’ fulfills this genre requirement through the complication in romantic relationship. Giselle, when in the Andalasia, is totally in love with Prince Edward. However, when she meets Robert and his daughter Morgan after coming into the ‘real world,’ she falls in love with Robert. The same situation comes up in Robert’s life as he falls in love with Giselle and loses interest in his fiancee Nancy. This romantic complication creates interesting tension in the minds of the audience as they become eager to know ‘what happens next’ in their relationship. The tension created due to complications in romantic relationships is a hallmark of romantic comedies. Moreover, this complication creates various funny moments in the movie. For example, when Robert takes Giselle to his office, she meets and praises the beauty of a woman, who is Robert’s client. Giselle expresses her sadness on hearing that she is divorcing her husband. Later, the couple decides not to divorce and says that Giselle opened their eyes which made them to change their mind. This moment is very funny as it puts Robert in a difficult situation. In this way, the romantic complications and the twists in the tale create some ‘feel good’ moments in the movie that makes the audience laugh. Moreover, the movie has maintained almost all the romantic/screwball comedy genre conventions. Genre conventions Some of the important genre conventions of romantic comedy are music, romance, dance, fantasy, loving characters and ‘happy endings’. The movie ‘Enchanted’ has all of these genre conventions. The movie is a musical, and has beautiful song and dance sequences. It also brings the element of fantasy world in the ‘real world’. For example, when Giselle decides to clean Robert’s house, she peeps out of the window and gives a musical ‘call’ to her ‘friends.’ It is shown that pigeons, rats, cockroaches and bees gather inside Robert’s house and help her in cleaning the house. This gives a message that animals and birds are sensitive and intelligent and can communicate with humans if they know how to communicate with them. However, humans have lost the touch with the life due to their mechanical and hectic lifestyle. The second romantic comedy convention is the conflict in Giselle’s and Robert’s social background. This creates various funny situations in Robert’s life. For example, when he takes Giselle to his office, her behavior and her conversation amuses the receptionist and his clients. Other important genre convention that remains in the movie is the ‘happy ending’. In spite of the complications, both Giselle and Robert are shown getting married. Their earlier romantic interests, Edward and Nancy, fall in love with each other and get married. Interestingly, keeping the romantic conventions intact has helped the movie a lot as it gives complete satisfaction to the audience and makes them feel as if they have been through a fairy land. Conclusion The movie Enchanted, through attributes like magnificent characters, musical treat, amazing fantasy and happy ending has gifted the audience with a brilliant ride through a fantasy world with beautiful locations and dream like life. Hence, it is right to say that Enchanted not only fulfills all the genre requirements of the romantic/screwball comedy but provides it in an abundant way. Works Cited Enchnanted. Dir. Kevin Lima. Perf. Amy Adams, Patrcik Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall and Susan Sarandon. Andalasia Productions, 2007. Film. Laham, Nicholas. Currents of comedy on the American screens: How films and television deliver different laughs for changing times. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2009. Print. Read More