Disney has been trying this sort of thing for a long time now, I think it would be fair to say. Failing every time, yes, but they do seem to be trying.
I’m not embarrassed to admit that I’m a general fan of Disney movies, and have seen just about all of them — that’s what happens when you’re exposed as a young’un to their nefarious propaganda (say this part in an overly sinister voice). Is it propaganda? Well, yes, I suppose. Nefarious? Um, yes, but that’s not entirely their fault. Blame society, if you must on that one. And physiological and psychological differences between boys and girls, if you’re in the mood to be pedantic and insufferable.
So what’s the problem with Tangled?
In some ways, it’s a harmless kids movie with pleasant musical numbers and fairly good voice acting. In others, it promulgates the typical Princess Mythos that Disney has been pushing since Show White (although it wasn’t as intentional back then). We can certainly forgive Disney for taking a — let’s be honest — typically dark and horrible Brothers Grimm fairy tale and mutating it completely to be palatable to modern audiences. It’s a kids movie, after all — with even a few of the classic “Animal Sidekicks” helping out.
I find it interesting that “Rapunzel” — although ostensibly the heroine and one of two primary protagonists (the other the male thief Flynn) — is not the name of the movie. Apparently Disney changed it because they thought that focusing on the name of the Princess kept boys from being interested in the film. But it seemed to work — it’s the highest-grossing Disney animated film since The Lion King.
One thing I find it admirable is that both Rapunzel and Flynn are not perfectly moral characters, and actually have flaws that cause problems that need to be overcome. But even though Rapunzel is responsible for much of the heroics of the film (some even physical, a bit of a change for the Disney Princess archetype — you don’t see as many princesses fighting), she inevitably falls into the same Distressed Damsel trope, even though she is often the one rescuing Flynn. The ending creeps up on you — here you think it’s something bold and interesting, but then it’s back to happily ever after again.
But even through all that … Disney’s really trying hard to make this a different sort of Princess movie. And they almost got it right.
It’s a fun movie with adventure and fairly original characters. It tries to have its cake and eat it too (in that it tries to subvert the Damsel in Distress archetype and also have the Pretty Princess in Love). But I appreciate the effort. We’re a long way from Ariel in The Little Mermaid, where an interesting and independent girl changes her physical appearance for a handsome stranger. Maybe next movie will be the one that doesn’t muddle its message.
Fingers crossed.
Jeremy “Jermsington” Fogelman is a sometimes writer/blogger and amateur voice actor, and full-time television watcher based out of Washington DC. Some of his attempts at writing and talking can found at his website.
Clacked by Jeremy Fogelman 
on May 03, 2011 @ 21:48 EST5EDT
I haven’t seen Tangled yet, but I’m curious – how would you compare it to movies like Pocahontas, Mulan, and the more recent The Princess and the Frog? The heroines are relatively strong and independent in those movies, so I’m wondering how Rapunzel compares to them.
*POST AUTHOR*
That’s actually a very good question. I think I’ll try to propose another article exploring the differences and similarities between the Princesses. In general, I would tend to recommend Tangled, although in some ways I liked some of Disney’s earlier films more. In short, though, Pocahontas was a flawed heroine that unfortunately gives up a lot to be with a man (probably expressed better than I could in the Nostalgia Chick’s review of the movie). Mulan was more interesting, to me, because what she really cared about was protecting her family and making her father proud – it’s almost incidental that she ended up with someone. I haven’t seen all of the Princess and the Frog yet, so I’d rather not talk too much about that one just yet – but it’s on my netflix instant queue, so I’ll finish it soon.