With the release of Shrek, in 2001, the classic Disney fairy tale got mugged by modern cynicism – which sniggers at the idea of enchantment. After three irreverent Shreks, and plenty of imitators, the fairy-tale spoof was exhausted. So, the problem for film-makers was: how do you go beyond Shrek-like irony without going back to Disney-like innocence? Answer: Enchanted.

The film opens in classic fairy-tale animation mode. A pretty girl called Giselle starts singing a song about the handsome prince of her dreams, who will come along some day. Together, they will share that most precious thing in life, “true love’s kiss”. Giselle then starts tidying up her room, aided by cooing birds and a whole parade of cute creatures. This girl is so pure of heart, she makes the Little Mermaid seem like Amy Winehouse.

It’s a brilliant scene because the director, Kevin Lima, never lets you know if it’s a send-up or sincere. We see Giselle fall into the arms of her handsome prince, and instantly they are in love and set off to be married. You sit back and wait for the comic payoff, the Shrek-like gag that will puncture this cutesy-wootsy wonder world. But it doesn’t happen. You begin to wonder: am I stuck here with this supersweet Disney fairy tale for who knows how long? You watch as the Prince’s wicked stepmother (Susan Sarandon) pushes Giselle down a well – to a place where there are “no happy-ever-afters”. And where can that be?

The real world, of course. And it doesn’t get much more real and rude than New York City. Giselle (Amy Adams) pops out of a pothole in Times Square, a real-life figure. Now the fun begins – it’s there straightaway, in the sight of the lost princess in her vast white crinoline wedding dress, wandering around the square, and in throwaway lines such as when she passes a dwarf on the street and sweetly says: “Hello, Grumpy.” Eventually, she ends up in the care of a cynical divorce lawyer and single dad, Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey), and his six-year-old daughter, Morgan (Rachel Covey). The film focuses on the clash between Robert’s disillusioned realism and Giselle’s wide-eyed romanticism. She believes in true love and happy-ever-after endings; he believes love is a battlefield. Bill Kelly’s screenplay gives each character their due. Giselle and Robert open each other’s eyes – and hearts.

In real life, however, there are always complications. Robert has a woman in his life, Nancy (Idina Menzel). Who will win his heart: the fairy-tale princess or the Jewish princess? And Giselle has her handsome prince, Edward (James Marsden), who, along with his manservant, Nathaniel (Timothy Spall), has arrived in New York to find his true love.

The vain, self-absorbed prince wants Giselle’s heart. Nathaniel, who works for the wicked queen, wants her dead.

Too many of the stock family films featuring bugs and bees are similar to each other. Here is a film that feels fresh, with some of the best comic writing we’ve seen in a long time. My favourite comic moment is when Morgan tells Giselle, who is preparing to go on a date with her prince: “Men only want one thing.” “What’s that?” asks the innocent Giselle. “I don’t know. They never tell you that,” Morgan says.

The performances are all perfect. Adams manages to show a wide-eyed innocence and sincerity of heart without making you want to gag. On the contrary, you want to believe she’s right about love. It’s the sheer force of her compelling charm that makes Enchanted so enchanting. And Lima has struck the right tone – romantic with a touch of schmaltz, maybe, but never yucky. Even Giselle’s chipmunk protector, Pip, isn’t irritating, and that’s a first for Disney. The film could have done without the big ending, but it is the best adult romantic comedy and child’s fairy tale we’ve had for a long time.

PG, 107 mins

Editor's choice

• U2 at Nou Camp Stadium, Barcelona
• The 50 Best Movie Villains
• The 15 golden rules of theatre etiquette