Second in the Barbie movie series is “Rapunzel.” The damsel with unusually long hair has lived her entire life in an enchanted castle, behind a wall that is so high, only a mighty dragon named Sir Hugo is strong enough to fly up and over. Rapunzel is unaware of the world that lies beyond the wall and has been content to live a quiet life, acting as a servant/daughter to Gothel, a querulous witch voiced by Anjelica Huston. Gothel has her own mysterious reasons for keeping Rapunzel trapped away from the world, but we don’t discover those until the end of the movie.
One day Rapunzel happens upon a trap door leading to a tunnel that burrows under the magic wall. She follows it out into the village and is amazed at everything she sees. So many people, free to do whatever they like. So many stores! So much to see and do! She can hardly believe that such a world has existed all this time.
She hears a cry for help and turns to see what’s going on. A little girl has fallen into a hole and is slipping. Rapunzel reaches out her hand and saves her, to the great appreciation of the girl’s older brother, Stefan. They talk for a while, and then Rapunzel realizes she’s been gone quite a while and must go. She never asked Stefan’s name and doesn’t know that he’s the prince.
Gothel’s spies are everywhere, and word gets back to her that Rapunzel met a young man in the village. She demands to know his name, but Rapunzel, of course, can’t give it to her. Furious, Gothel creates a high tower and traps Rapunzel inside, thinking to put an end to Rapunzel’s wandering. But a magic paintbrush appears in Rapunzel’s room, and she soon discovers that if she paints a picture of a place she’d like to be, she can go through the painting into that place. Using this means, she is able to visit with Stefan and continue their friendship.
Meanwhile, her friends Penelope the dragon (voiced by Cree Summer) and Hobie the rabbit are her allies, warning her when she needs to return to the castle. This backfires, however, and Gothel discovers once again that Rapunzel has left the tower.
Rapunzel’s integrity is the secret to breaking Gothel’s spell, and we are taught the importance of always telling the truth in this exciting, romantic, and “spell-binding” adventure.
Related Blogs: