Trivial Pursuits: Enchanted Edition

Disney's romantic fantasy Enchanted (coming to DVD this Tuesday) was more then just inspired by the animated fairy tales that came before it ... it is practically a visual encyclopedia of iconic imagery from the studio's catalog of classics. Here are some of the best (slightly spoilerish) examples:

• The film opens with a storybook, as several Disney masterpieces have.
• The troll that threatens Giselle (Amy Adams) is wearing remnants of past Disney princess dresses as a loincloth; he also wears Ariel's shells as earrings.
• The rose bell jar from Beauty and the Beast can be seen in Giselle's cottage.
• Giselle's journey through the magic wishing well is similar to Alice's journey to Wonderland.
• Upon arriving in New York, Giselle mistakes a little person for Grumpy.
• The last name of Patrick Dempsey's character is Philip, as in Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty; the last name of Idina Menzel's character is Tremaine, as in Lady Tremaine from Cinderella.
• During "Happy Working Song" (a direct descendant of "Whistle While You Work" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Giselle is seen reflected in soap bubbles, à la Cinderella.
• The bus driver's hair is shaped like Mickey Mouse ears.
• The name of Robert's law firm -- Churchill, Harline & Smith -- is an homage to Snow White songwriters Frank Churchill, Leigh Harline, and Paul J. Smith.
• The couple seeking divorce is named Banks, as in the Banks family from Mary Poppins.
• Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in The Little Mermaid, plays Robert’s secretary; during her scene in the law offices, "Part of Your World" can be heard playing on the Muzak system.
• When Nathaniel offers Giselle a poisoned caramel apple, it bears the same skull-shaped design as the Queen's apple in Snow White.
• The fellow in the yellow jacket during the "old folks" section of "That's How You Know" is Harvey Evans, who played one of the dancing chimney sweeps in Mary Poppins.
• Later during the same musical number, a children's theater is seen performing Rapunzel, soon (finally) to be a major motion picture from Disney Feature Animation.
• The hotel that Edward stays out is called the Grand Duke, à la Cinderella.
• During the hotel room scene, a soap opera is seen on the television; Paige O'Hara, who voiced Belle in Beauty and the Beast, plays the actress, and the Beauty theme song can be heard as the underscore; scenes from Dumbo and Fun and Fancy Free can also be heard on the TV.
• The Italian restaurant is named "Belle Notte", after the song from Lady and the Tramp; James Marsden (Prince Edward) singing "That's Amore" can be heard at the start of this sequence.
• The TV newscaster, Mary Ilene Caselotti, is named after the original voices of Princesses Aurora (Mary Costa), Cinderella (Ilene Woods) and Snow White (Adriana Caselotti).
• The harried mother who tells Edward that he is "too late" is played by Judy Kuhn, the singing voice of Pocahontas.
• The choreography and cinematography during "So Close" is reminiscent of the ballroom scene in Beauty and the Beast; Robert's costume in this scene resembles the Beast's as well.
• At different points in the movie, Queen Narissa transforms into an old crone, just like the Queen in Snow White, and a giant dragon, just like Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty.
• When Prince Edward puts the slipper on Nancy, it is a perfect fit, again à la Cinderella.
• The Lion King's Pumbaa makes a cameo appearance during the final montage, standing in line waiting for Pip's autograph.
• And finally: it all ends with a "happily ever after", courtesy of narrator (and Disney Legend) Julie Andrews.

Click here to pre-order Enchantedon DVD from Amazon.com.

UPDATE: Click here to read my full DVD review of Enchanted on LaughingPlace.com.