By KAITLYN HENSON
Staff Writer
It’s notable that for the past couple of years, Disney hasn’t had the best record of new releases. It mostly feels like there’s less passion with the production of movies such as Onward and Raya and the Last Dragon, their stories feeling empty and with little depth. But with Disney’s newest movie Encanto, things might be looking up for the studio with this gorgeous animated musical.
Encanto is a 2021 animated movie directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, with music written by Germaine Franco and Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also wrote music for Hamilton and Moana). It tells the story of the Madrigals, a magical family living in the mountains of Colombia. Given the magic of the Encanto, each family member has been given a special gift – from healing magic to making the flowers bloom. Everyone – except Mirabel, the protagonist of the story. But despite her lack of a gift, she still strives to be just as special as the rest of her family, even though most of them ridicule her for not being like them. This is why when the magic of the family is threatened by an unknown force, Mirabel is the only one to save the magic and bring her family back together.
Following Encanto’s release, I was really looking forward to what this movie had to offer, though in the back of my mind I was worried that it would not live up to my expectations. I watched the movie on Christmas day when it was released on Disney+, and I can say with so much confidence that Encanto is one of the best Disney movies to come out this year! I slowly fell in love with all of the characters, even the ones with small parts of the story. There is so much depth to each of the family members, everyone feels like they are a part of a real family. I especially love Mirabel, for her optimism and high spirits. I don’t often see a Disney protagonist like her, so it was really refreshing to see that.
Though many of the songs are great to listen to, the one that stands out among the rest is “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”. It’s a song that lives rent-free in my head – and for good reason. This song talks about how the family members don’t like Bruno – the awkward uncle that can see into the future and give people prophecies. Throughout the song, the different family members talk about their experiences with Bruno, from him predicting a hurricane during his sister’s wedding, to the younger kid’s mischievous interpretations of the so-called trickster. It’s a great way to introduce the audience to how the other characters perceive Bruno before we ever meet him, and I don’t see that a lot in stories anymore. All in all, it’s my favorite song in the whole movie and every character’s part shines through and builds up the moment when Bruno appears in the film.
There are however issues I have with Encanto, specifically with the ending of the movie. I felt it was anti-climatic and didn’t fully build-up to the height the climax brought us to. I was expecting something a lot bigger, seeing all the characters more in-depth and making the moment where Mirabel and Abuela reconcile much more impactful. I also felt that the reunion with Bruno and the family was a little overhyped, as the family members forgave him immediately with no repercussions or deep emotional moments with each other. I guess I just expected a little more from the build-up, especially since it’s from Disney.
But other than that criticism, I did really enjoy this story, and I will most definitely watch this movie again and again to catch everything I’ve missed. I would recommend Encanto to anyone who loves the Disney formula because this is an overall beautifully-crafted movie that celebrates Colombian culture with its artistry and magical elements. If you haven’t seen Encanto yet, go watch it when you have the time! You do not want to miss this masterpiece!