Kicking off our Fall Movie Preview, we bring you a delightful chat we had with the ever-gracious and lovely Moore, during which she discussed non-typical femmes fatales, singing in front of a 65-piece orchestra and Levi's powerful pipes.
MTV: How is Rapunzel different from the typical femme-fatale characters?Mandy Moore: She's not the typical femme fatale or the typical Disney princess even, because: A) She doesn't know she's a princess. I think she sort of has this inkling that something isn't quite right in her life, [but] she's just really sort of motivated to find out what else is out there beyond this crazy tower she's lived in for 18 years. Having said that, she's very independent, she can take care of herself, and she's definitely come up with really entertaining ways to keep herself busy.
MTV: Is the Disney take on Rapunzel the same as the original fairy tale?
Moore: Pretty much. She has an overprotective mother who tells her she's not missing out on anything, and it's a big bad world out there and it's too scary and dangerous and she'll be eaten alive, literally, if she decides to venture out into the world.
MTV: What was your reaction to Disney changing the film's original title, in an effort to lure in more young boys?
Moore: I think I was initially a bit taken aback, only because people know the story of Rapunzel, so when you say you're working on "Rapunzel," it's sort of a no-brainer, you don't have to explain it to people. But as the title sort of sunk in, I understood the decision behind changing it. The movie is so great and so cute, and people are going to see the trailer and know what the story is about. I guess you sort of have to leave it up to the brains at the top. They know what they're doing.
MTV: What can you tell us about this particular story? Can you tease any romance?
Moore: She sort of comes face to face with this stranger who precariously ends up in her tower, and he's very handsome [and] he knows it. He's quite the ladies' man, if you will. Somehow, they get roped into going on this adventure together and start to see a different side of one another, and potentially a romance ensues. There's [also] a few musical moments.
