Movie Review: Encanto
Disney is no stranger to receiving acclaim for its animated feature films, and some may even say that it has maintained this reputation more than any other animation production company. However, it has produced films that have flopped, either with audiences, critics or both. Whenever a new film is announced or released, many want to see if Disney will be able to provide audiences with another classic Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures movie.
Disney’s new film “Encanto” joins the animated feature library, and it premiered in cinemas Nov. 24, 2021. Although it was not a major box office success, the film released on Disney+ only a month later where its popularity grew, and soon the film went viral. Critics primarily praised its characters, story and original songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda. However, the film unfortunately doesn’t live up to the hype.
Directed by Jared Bush, Byron Howard and co-director Charise Castro Smith, “Encanto” follows the story of Mirabel and her family of magically powered characters as she, the only family member to not obtain powers, tries to prevent their enchanted house from being destroyed, which would strip the family of its powers. The movie also starred several well-known actors including Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero and John Leguizamo. Coming off his and Disney’s success with “Moana” and “Mary Poppins Returns,” Miranda wrote all of the original songs for the film as early as mid-2020.
This movie does have a certain charm to it that Disney is known for, and it’s certainly far from the worst the studio has released. The themes carried throughout the film: strong family ties and acceptance – fairly standard nowadays for Disney’s animated features – do work well by drawing in its intended audience. Nonetheless, this step down in quality occurs on the script and story level.
In Polygon’s review of the film, José María Luna commented, “Is this the product of a multibillion dollar corporation that’s coming to understand what good business it is to appeal to increasingly diverse markets? Of course, but that doesn’t prevent the smaller players within this system from approaching a personal project with love.”
Though the Madrigal family consists of several fascinating characters, many viewers feel that they do not have enough time to be fleshed out or to breathe in their own story, which is constantly moving. Understandably, having a movie that frequently pushes the plot along helps in the majority of films, but the deep, emotional setup and relationships in the story don’t fully match with the rapid pace. This may be a result of rough editing due to the story juggling more than 11 main and supporting characters, something seen in other movies recently released by Disney.
“A major plot development arrives out of nowhere, unearned, and changes everything,” Bill Goodykoontz with AZ Central stated. “Then a further development undercuts the apparent message the filmmakers have been trying to send for the entire movie.”
The climax and conclusion likewise never truly feel earned. The resolution to the primary conflict feels both familiar but cliche. Granted, the relationship between Mirabel and Abuela Alma leads to a sweet and meaningful moment, but the film fails to hold the moment by immediately jumping back into lighthearted humor. However the film still provides entertainment and fun as this humor remains consistent, the animation stands as being some of the best Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures has achieved and the songs are admittedly well-produced and memorable.
One reviewer with Bleeding Cool disagreed, saying, “‘Encanto’ isn’t anything particularly special when it comes to the music. However, the plot and how it handles being treated like an outsider by your own family is going to hit some people much harder than others.”
Overall, I would say that longtime Disney fans and even casual fans will find a lot of enjoyment in “Encanto.” While it has many issues and may not entirely deserve the mass attention it has received online, it remains an enjoyable watch for the family, just as long as you are prepared to have another catchy Disney soundtrack stuck inside your head.
Most importantly, we don’t talk about Bruno.
Marks is an opinion writer.