Encanto

Encanto Review: While most of the studio’s animated films feature large-scale adventures or epic journeys, Disney’s latest film, Encanto, seems to be most intimate.

 However, like The Frozen Movie and Moana earlier, this film keeps the bond between families at the center and is less concerned with apparent clichés.

 Sometimes, however, Encanto can be slightly unfocused. However, it has a solid emotional core, a catchy soundtrack by Lin Manuel Miranda, and stunningly precise animation that creates another hit to Disney animated films.

In a family known for its magical abilities, handed down to generations through the light of a candle Mirabel ( Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Stefanie Beatriz) is the most common one. 

In a ritual that typically involves one of the family members gaining a unique ability (like extraordinary strength, the ability to transform into a shape or communicate with animals), Mirabel’s door is almost shut right in front of her.

 Throughout a few generations, members of the Madrigal family have used their talents to create an intimate community in a remote Columbian community. Yet, when cracks begin to appear in the Madrigal home and their Casita, each family member’s unique gift begins to fade away. For Mirabel, the only way to save her home is to get to know her family better.

If anything more, Encanto deserves praise for doing something different. Admittedly, it might not always be successful as its music and humor are, in fact, its best quality – but to witness the way it is represented at this level deserves praise regardless. 

Family dynamics are a common theme in animated films, and although there are some elements of this present in Encanto, it has a distinct way of doing so. Women aren’t determined by their relationship with men and do not offer solutions to issues that can be answered with “more magic.”

 An incredibly heartfelt side is a part of Encanto, which helps to bolster some of the more common elements.

Encanto feels like a movie that includes six distinct writing credits in terms of narrative.

 The concept is ideal for a Disney animated film. However, it cannot find the perfect beats to take viewers from A to B. An exceptional family that has to rely on only one family member to make it through is a well-known movie trope, and it does not have the same thrill as similar Disney or Pixar films. 

Many will find the intimateness reassuring, but it implies that the movie does not have a lot of stakes, and its overall narrative is somewhat hollow compared to other Disney films. 

The film hits many of the same themes; however, there are some moments where the movie seems somewhat haphazard. Thankfully, it gets back on track to deliver an emotional ending that will hit anyone.

Incredibly, Encantodoes seem to be less child-friendly than some other Disney films. Its message is unclear, resulting from the script’s rambling pacing – while the songs aren’t as memorable as Lin Manuel Miranda’s work in Moana. 

There are some great songs, but some seem a bit stale. Like Mirabel, Encanto is a bit ordinary in the vast library of Disney animated films of recent. It’s still enjoyable. However, it cannot reach the same heights as some of the studio’s other films.