‘Tangled’ is turning 10 but has never felt more timely: Why to rewatch the Disney film now
Disney released an animated film about a golden-haired princess who finally escapes from isolation. Ten years after “Tangled” arrived in theaters on Nov. 24, 2010, the animated musical has suddenly become the most prescient film to stream at home (and is available on Disney+, iTunes, YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime and Vudu).
Of course, “Tangled” has always been a worthy watch. Protagonist Rapunzel’s beautifully animated hairography alone justifies the price of a ticket. But now, a decade later, when the CDC is encouraging families to stay home stay home for Thanksgiving and many states are reimposing coronavirus restrictions, “Tangled” seems particularly poignant.
We talked with Byron Howard, who directed the movie along with Nathan Greno, about why “Tangled” has never felt more timely.
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Rapunzel is the queen of quarantine
No, not literally – Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) is actually a princess – but she is unparalleled when it comes to taking on hobbies (and growing her hair) while isolated.
After 18 years spent locked in a tower, Rapunzel has developed a long list of pastimes. She draws, bakes, cleans, reads, climbs and paints. She sews dresses, makes candles, strums a guitar, throws darts, completes puzzles, plays chess and uses a pet chameleon as a ventriloquist doll. She has an entire brilliant song dedicated to the dozens of ways she stays occupied inside, called, “When Will My Life Begin?” It is a song I’ve played many times this year.
Although Rapunzel keeps herself pretty busy that activities that may seem familiar to those who quarantined this year, there were a number of modern boredom busters that couldn’t be included, because “she didn’t have any Wi-Fi,” says Howard.
So unfortunately for Rapunzel, she wasn’t able to play the video game “Animal Crossing” from home, which Howard and his family find “very calming” these days.
When Rapunzel eventually leaves the house, she’s an emotional mess
After Rapunzel finally descends from the tower where she’s spent her entire life, she’s distraught. She immediately seesaws from cartwheeling elation (“Best day ever!”) to staring-at-the-ground depression (“I am a despicable human being!”) as she debates whether to go back inside, because she’s defied Mother Gothel’s orders to remain inside.
“It said so much about her personality and what she evolved into,” Howard says. “I think going through that is very human.”
Those extreme mood swings that come on once you emerge from the house after a long period of lockdown? Oh, yeah, we now know from experience that those are real human feelings.
Mother Gothel’s gaslighting sounds familiar
In “Tangled,” villain Mother Gothel kidnaps infant Rapunzel from royal parents and raises the child as her own. The elderly (she might be hundreds of years old) antagonist holds Rapunzel prisoner so that she can benefit from the princess’ magical hair that offers eternal youth.
So why did it take Rapunzel so long to realize that Mother Gothel was bad, and to get out?
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