► Tangled | A-

As the 50th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, Tangled had high expectations to live up to — and it surpassed them all. The wonderful world of Disney has once again returned to its magical roots to weave together another box office hit.

Based loosely off the classic fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, Tangled follows the tale of Rapunzel, voiced by Mandy Moore (A Walk to Remember), a princess with magical, long blonde hair. In her infantry, Rapunzel is kidnapped and then raised in an isolated tower by a miserable old woman, Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy, Star Trek: Insurrection), who uses the magic from Rapunzel's hair to stay young. After 18 years of captivity, Rapunzel is curious about the outside world and eventually escapes with the help of her prince-charming-esque figure, Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi, Chuck). Rapunzel's infectious exuberance and endearing innocence is simply enchanting, and it is perfectly offset by Flynn's magnetic charisma and overwhelming self-confidence. Together, they embark on a mesmerizing adventure, discovering all that the world has to offer.

Needless to say, as with all successful Disney Princess films, Tangled keeps to the original storyline but indubitably adds a modern twist. It has catchy and adeptly placed musical numbers and is sure to keep the pop-culture references scarce — all ingredients of the formula for timeless Disney classics that pass the test of time. While the tone of the film is what makes Tangled a true Disney production, the witty attitude of the characters gives the film a Pixar-feel and the vibrant animation a DreamWorks touch. Tangled also pays tribute to many treasured aspects of the great Disney classics by including cherished characters, such as the suave, dashing ruffian from Aladdin and the noble horse from Mulan, and memorable moments from the likes of Disney favorites such as Snow White, Beauty and the Beast,The Lion King,etc.

Though voice actors for the main characters are well-known in mainstream media, the remaining few characters were voiced by a less star-studded cast, demonstrating that the Tangled casting team made an earnest effort in finding voices that truly matched the characters. It is also important to note that the use of 3-D special effects was not overdone, as has been the flaw of many of the recent 3-D movies.

Tangled was in production for six years, and it was six years well-worth it. The characters were not only well-developed but also well-presented. The plotline was well-planned and well-executed, and every other aspect of the movie was just, to put it frankly, well done. Though Disney Princess movies have generally been geared specifically toward young girls, Tangled enchants viewers of all shapes and sizes and is a film for everyone — boys and girls, young and old alike. Regardless of whether Tangled is Disney's finest work to date, its throwback to Disney classicism and Broadway soundtracks make it an absolute must-see.