Vibrant, funny, and oh so sweet, Tangled is rousing family entertainment which belongs in the top tier of Disney’s illustrious pantheon of classics.

Based on The Brothers Grimm fairytale “Rapunzel” (poor marketing results saw Disney opt for a name change), Tangled is surprisingly the first feature film adaptation to hit the silver screen, with several small screen adaptations preceding it.

What isn’t a surprise is Disney’s restructure of the Grimm tale to fit their credo. Featured are cute animals doing funny things, characters that burst into song, and shameless subliminal advertising for upcoming toys and video games, which sure to be sold at all Disney approved retailers near you!

Yet despite (or maybe because) of the mechanics of the Disney model, Tangled glows proudly amongst their best work, thanks to fleshed out characters worth caring about, wondrous fantasy, and a tapestry of colour and volume in its animation which is simply astonishing.

Mandy Moore lends her considerable voice talents to Rapunzel, a princess with magical qualities and an impossible stream of golden locks, abducted at a young age and kept in a high tower by evil (with a capital E) Mother Gothel, voiced with fiery wickedness by Donna Murphy.

Wanting out, Rapunzel convinces cocky thief with suspect porno name Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) to break her out of her prison and guide her on a journey to a magical kingdom, where for the last 18 years she has wondered at its majesty.

What follows is that ever reliable fantasy stable of the perilous journey, seen in everything from Wizard of Oz to Finding Nemo. And just like those classics, Tangled meshes fine character dynamic with fun set pieces.

Leading the charge are the great voice work of Moore and Levi, who trade jibes, song, and sweet nothings to make for a dynamic and heartfelt duo.

Surrounding the pair are memorable supporting characters. There is a dogged, rambunctious horse who wins laughs in every scene; a bar full of thugs and murderers who provide a rousing, show stopper of a tune; and the conniving, wicked Mother Grtohel, perhaps the most memorable animated villain to scare the kiddies in a long time.

The animation is incredible in its detail and vibrancy, with every strain of Rapunzel’s hair and every blade of grass brimming with volume. Yet it is the writing which makes Tangled such a fun watch, screenwriter Dan Fogelman not content with relying on caricature, nor on pop culture riffs to bolster the films humour.

Through the direction of Bolt collaborators Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, Tangled becomes a genuinely surprising and heartfelt mesh of old convictions and new directions, which does not fail in eliciting emotional reactions of laughter, wonder, and even sadness.

Combine Tangled with Enchanted and The Princess and the Frog, and you will find a modern day “princess” trilogy that evokes the majesty of Disney’s past, and provides faith in the direction of its future.