Four out of Five stars
Running time: 92 mins

Hugely enjoyable, frequently funny and superbly animated, this is a pleasingly old-fashioned, utterly charming Disney adventure that will appeal to adults and children alike.

What's it all about?
Directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, Tangled marks a welcome return to the tried-and-tested fairytale formula for Disney's 50th feature. Unaware that she's a princess who was kidnapped at birth, lengthily-haired Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) has lived her whole life in a tall tower that's only accessible by letting down her own luxurious locks. This is thanks to the manipulations of her ‘mother’ Gothel (Donna Murphy), who uses the magical rejuvenating properties of her stolen daughter's hair to keep herself looking young and beautiful.

However, inspired by the annual floating lanterns that the King and Queen release in memory of their lost daughter, Rapunzel decides she wants to defy her mother and explore the outside world. She gets her chance when she meets handsome thief Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi), by promising that she'll only return his stolen goods if he'll escort her into the kingdom.

The Good
Moore and Levi deliver lively, charming performances and generate an appealingly sparky chemistry together, while Broadway star Murphy is superb as Gothel, particularly when belting out the film's best song, Mamma Knows Best; she also does a note-perfect Julie Andrews impression. The animation is gorgeous throughout, seamlessly blending old style hand-drawn animation with modern digital techniques but also allowing for a certain artistic flair, most notably in Rapunzel's own paintings.

The script is extremely funny, with several great lines and some wonderful sight gags. There are also two brilliantly conceived (thankfully non-speaking) animal sidekicks: Rapunzel's ever-present chameleon companion Pascal and a scene-stealing supercop horse named Maximus. In addition, the 3D is used brilliantly throughout, especially in the lanterns scene, where it delivers an unexpectedly powerful emotional punch.

The Great
The action sequences are brilliantly staged and delightfully inventive, particularly with regard to all the different ways Rapunzel uses her hair. There's only one small problem – there are enough laugh-out-loud frying-pan-to-the-face moments to warrant a sternly worded warning to impressionable young children on the way out, in case of copycat incidents.

Worth seeing?
Tangled is a hugely entertaining, superbly animated and frequently funny Disney adventure that's a treat for the entire family. Highly recommended.