“I’m just very interested in your hair and the magical qualities that it possesses.” – Flynn Rider 

So I’ve realized that this blog has slowly shifted to me just gushing and detailing the better half of Disney movies I just adore but I promise some weird ones are coming soon. Tangled, coming out in 2010, is one of those timeless classics (if you were born in the 2000’s) and for this movie I’m going to address some key things that make it one of the top movies from our childhoods.

Tangled follows the story of Rapunzel, a women who is trying to find herself is a closed off environment that doesn’t allow for her to grow or even be herself. You see, Rapunzel was stolen when she was just a baby by who she thinks is her mother, Mother Gothel. She doesn’t know her real parents are the king and queen of the land and to her all Mother Gothel wants to do is protect her. In Disney movies we see horrible parents, or evil villains and yet in Tangled its framed differently. Rapunzel doesn’t think of her mom as evil, she loves her mom and thinks though she wont let her outside all she is doing is protecting her.

(This link will take you too “Mother Knows Best”

Mother Gothel’s tactics of keeping Rapunzel under her control is not out right evil, she manipulates and gaslights Rapunzel and has done that her whole life to take her power from her. Telling her going outside would be fatal for her, people would use her, beat her, and even kill her! “Gullible, naïve, positively grubby, Ditzy and a bit, well, hmm, vague, Plus, I believe, gettin’ kinda chubby, I’m just saying ’cause I wuv you.” She continues this for a whole song, guilting Rapunzel for even wanting to leave, this has worked for almost 17 years until Rapunzel’s curiosity and a thief named Flynn comes along and upturns all she has known.

“All at once, everything is different, now that I see you.” – Flynn & Rapunzel 

(This link will take you too “I See the Light”)

The way Disney lets Tangled be about Rapunzel’s growth and her finding herself while also incorporating a romance that doesn’t overshadow Rapunzel is very rare and between when it to Disney movies. Rapunzel and Flynn (a thief who steals what happens to be Rapunzel’s crown) run, explore, and almost die together both on this journey for different reasons and yet coming together to realize there was also love waiting for them. We see Rapunzel enjoy things she never got to before, like running through a field of grass, singing in a bar, and finding out what it means to be brave. Its not that she needs Flynn to understand herself, it’s that she is understanding herself and also wanting to be with Flynn. That makes the world of a difference when it comes to little girls watching this movie and then looking towards romance.

(This link will take you to “When Will My Life Begin?)

The realism in the way Disney portrayed Rapunzel’s reaction to Mother Gothel’s betrayal and realizing she can’t trust her anymore is everything. Rapunzel is devastated and almost falls back into Mother Gothel’s arms after she tries to convince her Flynn is just using her to get to the crown. Not every person that finds themselves are sure, and Rapunzel having loved Mother Gothel like a mom for 18 years is so confused. This aspect of the movie does lean towards more older people as younger kids might not get the nuances of Mother Gothel’s and Rapunzel’s relationship with each other but it shows its ok to have doubt along the way.

Tangled is one of those movies you watch again and find new things you hadn’t even noticed last time. It is timeless and always will be a great film to watch casually and if you want to look more deeply at a movie and really analyze it. It does have many lighthearted parts and songs, and will make you let out a chuckle along the way.