Movie Breakdown: Encanto

Pre-Screening Stance:

When I showed my wife the trailer for Encanto she simply went “hm, interesting.” This then made me realize that I haven’t really seen anyone talking about Disney’s latest feature. Is that how everyone is feeling going into it, with raised eyebrows? I think it’s looks good.

Post-Screening Ramble:

Encanto is a bit sloppy, but it sure has heart. The film is centered around Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), a member of a magical family, the Madrigals, who live in a magical house. Mirabel, however, has no special abilities or powers. She was supposed to receive a “gift” on a certain birthday, but nothing was granted, and she’s since gone about happily existing amongst the enhanced Madrigals. One day though, she discovers that her future is to either save or destroy her beloved family, so she makes moves to figure out which side of the prophecy is true.

I really loved the core message of Encanto, which is that being a regular hard-working and caring person is the only “gift” that anyone needs. I feel like a lot of these sorts of movies always have an arc where the main character needs to realize a special power in order to save the day, but that’s not Maribel’s story here. Instead, she’s a normie who’s surrounded by magical people, and she must use good ole elbow grease to help them. What a nice change of pace. Otherwise, the film has lots of laughs, solid songs, and plenty of moments that will make you tear up. I do think it has too many characters (the Madrigals are a huge family), which means you never really get to know any of them. I also found that its conclusion rears up so fast and effortlessly that it doesn’t feel fully earned. These are minor quibbles though in what’s a very enjoyable movie.

Grab the family and go see Encanto when it hits theaters on Wednesday, November 24.

One Last Thought: