Encanto Movie Review
Nathan Swank
December 23rd, 2021
Once again, Disney lays down the gauntlet showing why they are the best in the business. Tackling so many different issues and wrapping them up in an entertaining and teaching format. However, the greatest achievement from ENCANTO is the memorable music that children will surely be singing for many years to come.
ENCANTO follows a magical family in Colombia. For a couple of generations, each member obtains a special gift that they bestow upon their town. But their magical home and powers seem to be cracking and falling away. It’s up to teenage Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), the only member of the family who did not receive the gift, to find out what is happening and heal the family gift.
Vibrantly colorful, ENCANTO looks magnificent. There is also a certain high energy of joy and fun played throughout the film and the characters. Full of optimism and kindness, Mirabel in particular, is an excellent role model. Even in the face of the family matriarch, Abuela (Maria Cecilia Botero), who seems to blame and ridicule, Mirabel keeps her head up and powers through in her quest to be and do good.
Like all Disney movies, it’s the adults who have questionable actions, not willing to fully communicate what is happening, that seems to be an unfortunate catalyst for the plot. And in Abuela’s case even an unforgivable action of outcasting her son Bruno (John Leguizamo). But even so, it’s the music from Lin-Manuel Miranda that saves or elevates the material to higher ground. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is already a mega hit that will possibly live on more than any legacy the rest of the movies from this year will provide. But it’s “The Family Madrigal” and “Surface Pressure” that I found to be most exceptionally brilliant. The latter being applicable for kids and adults alike dealing with all types of pressure.
ENCANTO is easily one of the best films of the year. And one with music that children will continue to play and sing until their parents scream, if they weren’t so catching and lovable for any age.
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