REVIEW: "ENCANTO" ON DISNEY+
Lead characters in big Disney animated musicals tend to be relatable in broad, universal ways. "Oh, this girl is trapped in her small village but dreams of seeing the world." "The prince wants to marry for love but for the good of his kingdom, he's betrothed to a stranger." We can all sympathize with characters in these kinds of situations, just as we could a fairy tale or Shakespearean protagonist, but it rarely feels immediate. I don't genuinely need to RELATE to Simba or Ariel directly for their respective films to work; I just need to generally want stuff to work out for them.
On the other hand, I've very rarely seen a lushly-animated, song-filled family film like "Encanto," which feels so psychologically and emotionally relevant for viewers in the present day. We've seen the impact of Pixar's more mature and provocative sensibilities on Disney Animation films before: "Zootopia," with its incisive social commentary, for example, or the ways "Moana" played around with animation styles and reconsidered the traditional Princess/Chosen One narrative. "Encanto" feels like the perfect synthesis of the two studios' approaches: it's both a warm and inviting fable with some great songs that would probably inspire a kickass dark ride, AND a surprisingly deep and nuanced take on anxiety, self-doubt, complex family dynamics, and generational trauma. (Yes, really.) Plus there's an adorable capybara.
The action is set in rural Colombia in an indistinct time that sort of suggests the early 20th Century, among the magical Madrigal family. They live in an enchanted house that was miraculously provided to Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero) many years ago in her moment of greatest need. Now, when every new family member comes of age, they open a special door and receive their own unique magical gift. (For example, the ability to see the future, control the weather, or speak to animals. You get the idea.) The one exception to this rule is the clever optimist Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), who never received a special gift, as her magical door disappeared during her ceremony. Now, at age 15, and with the miracle that powers the Madrigal home in crisis, Mirabel will unlock the secrets of her past and discover her purpose.
The screenplay by co-directors Charise Castro Smith and Jared Bush is something of a marvel, balancing enough story and ideas and locations to propel at least a 3 or 4 episode limited series. We get to know three generations of the Madrigal clan, and all of their various abilities and personalities, along with several members of the community that has grown up around their home. (Colombian pop star Maluma voices Mariano, a local hunk with his eyes on Mirabel's sister, Julieta.) The specific nature of the Madrigal's magic home and candle are investigated, along with the mysterious disappearance of Mirabel's uncle Bruno (John Leguizamo). There are several extremely catchy songs from "Hamilton" mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda, including the Oscar-nominated "Dos Oruguitas" and the probably-should-have-been-nominated "We Don't Talk About Bruno." There are multiple action-adventure set-pieces, plot twists, and a bonafide supernatural mystery to solve.
But most notably, there's a lot of really thoughtful exploration of the pressures that have been placed on Mirabel and the other Madrigals, how they feel in some ways defined by their gifts, and trapped by the expectations that their relatives and their community have placed on them. It's one thing for a film like this to capture the aesthetics and vibrancy of Colombia's geography and people and culture, but to present a compassionate and three-dimensional take on complex and difficult topics like the immigrant experience, finding your place and individual identity within a large family, feelings of estrangement and alienation, and resiliency in the face of failure... it's an awful lot to expect a film like this, one that must also be fast on its feet and entertaining and inspire future theme park merch sales. I was honestly blown away by "Encanto." They totally nailed it on this one.
THE BASICS
Title: "Encanto"
Where to Watch: Disney+
Running time: 102 minutes
Genre: Animated musical fantasy
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