Maybe it's because I grew up in the 90s, but I always felt that that's when Disney movies were at their peak. With classics like Aladdin, The Lion King, and Toy Story, it's hard to argue otherwise. But lately, Disney has been pretty hit or miss. For every The Incredibles, there's a The Princess and the Frog.
Luckily, Tangled falls into the good category. It does have the slightly cliche and cutesy Disney moments, but outside of those requisite staples of the company, it's a surprisingly well-written and charming animated movie. It is formulaic, but every beat feels right and doesn't end up feeling too trite.
The big reason that this succeeds is due to the voice acting. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi are an unlikely duo for a big Disney smash hit, but they're both charming in their roles. As a Chuck fan, I find it hard not to like Zachary Levi in anything, though. Both are solid singers, even though the songs don't always make the best use of their voices. In fact, if there's a problem with the movie, it's the songs. They're not bad, but really don't have the staying power of a Lion King or an Aladdin, or a Little Mermaid.
The other notable thing about the film is that it's surprisingly well-written. It's no Toy Story (which is probably the wittiest animated film ever written), but it's got some good lines, and more importantly, good line deliveries as well. Though the movie is pretty formulaic (and not just because it's a take on Rapunzel) and you know exactly how it'll end before it even starts, it's a fun movie that deserves a watch if you're at all a Disney fan.
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