movie reviews of encanto

Finding something the whole family can watch during the holidays is a perennial challenge. It’s as much a part of tradition as turkey on Thanksgiving and Christmas carols on the radio soon after. This holiday season, Disney is serving up a warm, feel-good family friendly movie called “Encanto,” a Colombian magical realist tale of a family that received special powers after surviving a tragedy. Now, a few generations later, they live together in a magical house and each member develops their own talent, like the ability to control the weather, shapeshift into other people, and talk to animals. Their casita (house) responds to the family’s requests and responds to their moods. Each bedroom is magically tailored to the relative and their magical gift. All except for one, Mirabel ( Stephanie Beatriz ). 

“Encanto” follows the “girl with no apparent gift” Mirabel, who tries her best to fit in a family so extraordinary that her judgmental Abuela Alma ( María Cecilia Botero ) offers only her disappointment at every turn. For Mirabel, it’s tough to stand out when her mom, Julieta ( Angie Cepeda ), can heal wounds with her cooking—more specifically, her arepas con queso, her sister Luisa ( Jessica Darrow ) can lift the heaviest of objects with ease, and her sister Isabela ( Diane Guerrero ) can grow the most beautiful flowers without barely thinking about it. Mirabel notices the family’s casita is starting to show cracks, but no one believes her and downplays her worries as something her estranged eccentric uncle Bruno ( John Leguizamo ) would say. It’s up to Mirabel to find out what’s happening to save both her family and her home. 

Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard (“ Zootopia ”) and co-director Charise Castro Smith (” Raya and the Last Dragon ”), who bears more than a passing resemblance to the movie’s main character, have created another kind hearted movie about misfits trying to do the right thing. Most notably, there’s no villain in this Disney movie, just a nebulous “unknown” threatening the family and their home. The conflict is minimal at best, which allows for Mirabel to spend more time learning about what she can do despite her lack of powers, but it also leaves the movie feeling a bit meandering. To make up for lost action, the movie shines in its animation and design, really making use of the house with doors to new worlds and musical sequences that allow for a little more abstract artistic freedom. 

Speaking of those musical sequences, I think it’s time Lin-Manuel Miranda takes a break. After knocking it out of the park with “In the Heights,” “ Hamilton ” and “ Moana ,” his 2021 offerings have been a little lackluster. For this review, I finally watched the movie “ Vivo ,” in which he voices the title character as well as handles the song writing duties. Those numbers sounded flimsy and forgettable. In one song, he rhymes “drum” with… “drum.” In “Encanto,” the odds are a little better, more songs fare better than others, but there’s still a sense that these musical numbers are the reheated leftovers from other projects. They sound like his work, but don’t offer anything new or exciting to get stuck in our heads. Isabela and Luisa’s disposable pop songs “What Else Can I Do?” and “Surface Pressure” are cloyingly repetitive. “The Family Madrigal” is a less effective version of the opening song from “In the Heights.” Only Carlos Vives’ rendition of Miranda’s song “Colombia, Mi Encanto” sounds like a memorable stand-out.

Unimpressive songs are an unfortunate thing to befall an animated musical like “Encanto.” Thankfully, there are other elements to enjoy like the movie’s boisterous voice cast that includes Carolina Gaitán , Rhenzy Feliz , Ravi Cabot-Conyers , Wilmer Valderrama , Mauro Castillo , and one-name Latin music stars Maluma and Adassa. It’s also impressive to see an animated Disney movie finally include varying skin tones and hair textures in the same family, while also incorporating Colombian fashion like ponchos, flowing embroidered skirts, colorful dresses and guayaberas as part of a character’s details. Beatriz is magnificent as Mirabel, embodying both pain and love in her voice throughout the film, yet never losing a sense of the goofy playfulness that makes her character so likeable. Abuela’s singing voice comes from the one and only Olga Merediz , another “In the Heights” alum.

Similar to how Pixar’s “ Coco ” paid tribute to Mexican culture, “Encanto” holds many nods to its Colombian roots, from the use of flowers and animals specific to the regions to crafting songs that incorporated their respective countries’ musical palette. In both stories, the matriarchal abuelas have to also go through an emotional journey just as much (if not more) than the younger protagonists in the movie. It’s an interesting development to see both Pixar and Disney Animation move into the world tour phase of their storytelling, but I hope they avoid repeating each other in thematic and narrative elements. 

One difference is that “Encanto” explores the Madrigals’ backstory beyond their household, showing the Madrigal grandparents fleeing their homeland for safety and Abuelo’s ultimate sacrifice in an artistic flashback. The story of a homeland lost and the family who rebuilt in a new land is not an uncommon one for many immigrant families, and by sensitively including it as part of a charming Disney movie, perhaps will give a new generation a better sense of belonging or at least the comfort that others have shared their experience. It may help kids who didn’t grow up with those stories of a “paradise lost” to understand those that did. Maybe that’s an optimistic view for a movie many will flock to in a post-turkey coma, but despite a few missteps, “Encanto” is one of the more charming animated movies to hit theaters this year. 

Exclusively in theaters today. 

Monica Castillo

Monica Castillo is a critic, journalist, programmer, and curator based in New York City. She is the Senior Film Programmer at the Jacob Burns Film Center and a contributor to  RogerEbert.com .

• Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel Madrigal (voice)
• John Leguizamo as Bruno Madrigal (voice)
• María Cecilia Botero as Abuela Alma Madrigal (voice)
• Wilmer Valderrama as Agustín Madrigal (voice)
• Diane Guerrero as Isabela Madrigal (voice)
• Jessica Darrow as Luisa Madrigal (voice)
• Angie Cepeda as Julieta Madrigal (voice)
• Adassa as Dolores Madrigal (voice)
• Mauro Castillo as Félix Madrigal (voice)
• Rhenzy Feliz as Camilo Madrigal (voice)
• Carolina Gaitán as Pepa Madrigal (voice)
• Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Antonio Madrigal (voice)
• Maluma as Mariano (voice)
• Alan Tudyk as Pico (voice)

Cinematographer

• Alessandro Jacomini
• Daniel Rice
• Nathan Detroit Warner
• Byron Howard

Writer (story by)

• Charise Castro Smith
• Lin-Manuel Miranda

Co-director

Composer (original score composed by).

• Germaine Franco
• Jeremy Milton

Composer (original songs by)

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‘Encanto’ Review: In This House, We Make Magic

Disney’s new film, about a gifted family in Colombia, has stunning animation, a beautifully composed story and spellbinding songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

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By Maya Phillips

For better or worse, Disney has always been in the business of making magic. We all know the worst: the unimpressive secondhand sorcery of formulaic plots, flavorless songs and lifeless animation. But the best — well, that’s the kind of magic that gets passed on for generations.

So it’s not unlike the magic of Casita, the living house of the Madrigal family in Disney’s brilliant new animated film “Encanto.” Forget Alexa — Casita’s a smart home like no other. She speaks in a language of clapped tiles and flapping window shutters, and helps keep things in order.

And she has her traditions: When each young Madrigal comes of age, she grants them a gift and a door to a new bedroom, an impossibly large and elaborately designed chamber themed around a special ability. It all started years ago, when the Madrigal matriarch, Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero), and her family fled the violence of their village. After a tragic loss, however, a miracle appeared in the form of a candle that granted the kids their powers. There’s a shape-shifter, a prophet, a healer and more — and then there’s Mirabel (a perfectly cast Stephanie Beatriz), the muggle of the clan.

When Mirabel finds herself in the middle of a mystery about the future of her family’s magic, she goes on a mission to figure out how she can stop the worst from happening. It’s a surprisingly small-scale story: Instead of on a journey, the action unfolds in and around the Madrigal home. But that’s because “Encanto” is most interested in the love and struggles of family, without silly side characters or romantic leads.

The computer animation, some of the best from any major studio in the last several years, presents a dazzling confabulation of hues and a meticulous weaving of precious details — like the embroidery on skirts, the golden-brown crust of a cheese arepa and the selection of native Colombian flora.

In “Encanto” there’s a robust engagement with, and respect for, Latino culture in all of its dimensions. The Madrigal family members’ skin tones range from lighter to darker, their hair textures from straight to kinky-curly. And the grand pooh-bah of the contemporary musical movie score, Lin-Manuel Miranda , provides a spellbinding soundtrack of songs combining salsa, bachata and hip-hop played with traditional folk instruments from Colombia.

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All the winners, ‘encanto’: film review.

A Colombian teenager has to save her extended family’s magic although she has no special gift of her own in Disney’s animated musical adventure with original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

By David Rooney

David Rooney

Chief Film Critic

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Disney’s Encanto is, well, enchanting. It’s tricky to make an animated film so infused with exuberant sweetness without it becoming cloying. But this whimsical dose of magic realism set amid the lush greenery of the Colombian mountains benefits as much from the purity of the storytelling as the stunning vibrancy of the visuals. Aside from a quick nod to the inescapable Frozen anthem, “Let It Go,” and a funny throwaway gag about valet parking for burros, there are remarkably few of the usual winking cultural anachronisms designed to pander to contemporary kids. Instead, this is a film that commits to the timeless folklore of its South American setting to a transporting degree.

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The project is led by two of the directors behind Zootopia , Jared Bush and Byron Howard, with co-direction from lead screenwriter Charise Castro Smith, a playwright making an impressive leap into features after TV credits ranging from Devious Maids to The Haunting of Hill House . The other indispensable member of the creative team is Lin-Manuel Miranda , who contributes eight buoyant original songs that blend his passion for traditional musical theater with Colombian music and the rapid-fire wordplay of hip-hop.

Release date : Wednesday, Nov. 24 Cast : Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, Angie Cepeda, Wilmer Valderrama, Diane Guererro, Jessica Darrow, Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, John Leguizamo, Maluma, Alan Tudyk Directors : Jared Bush, Byron Howard Co-director : Charise Castro Smith Screenwriters : Charise Castro Smith, Jared Bush

The opening number does exactly what a good musical starter should do — it deftly sets the tone, maps out the history and breakdown of the large gallery of characters, and zooms in on the principal figure, Mirabel Madrigal. Voiced with delightful verve by Stephanie Beatriz ( Brooklyn Nine-Nine ), the 15-year-old is a beloved member of the extended family but also something of an outsider, who hides her melancholy feelings of inferiority by being a model of cheery helpfulness.

That same song, “The Family Madrigal,” also introduces their casita, a multistory fairy-tale house with its own magical powers. Its roof and floor tiles, doors and windows all move in rhythm with the music, communicating with the Madrigals in inventive ways and nudging the physical comedy.

Mirabel’s grandmother, Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero), has the warmth of the classic salt-of-the-earth matriarch but also a watchful sternness. She is literally the keeper of the flame, a candle delivered to her in a time of tragedy that burns eternally, fueling the family’s magic. Forced to flee her native village with three newborn infants, Alma lost her husband, Pedro, in an attack by bandits. The candle caused the Madrigal house to appear out of uninhabited jungle and has granted a special gift to all Alma’s children and grandchildren ever since, revealed on each one’s fifth birthday.

Mirabel’s mother, Julieta (Angie Cepeda), can heal any illness with her cooking; her sister Isabela (Diane Guererro) is a dazzling beauty who makes flowers bloom; eldest sibling Luisa (Jessica Darrow) possesses superhuman strength; Aunt Pepa (Carolina Gaitán) can control the weather with her feelings; cousin Dolores (Adassa) has extraordinary hearing; and another cousin, Camilo (Rhenzy Feliz), is an irrepressible entertainer with shape-shifting powers.

Only Mirabel has no gift. The anticlimax of her fifth birthday celebration, when the magical doorway with her name on it simply crumbled to dust, still weighs heavily on her 10 years later. On her Abuela too, especially with the gift ceremony of Mirabel’s young cousin Antonio (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) fast approaching. Alma is concerned that the magic — which has cocooned the family for three generations and supported the village community that sprung up around them — may be burning out.

When Mirabel has a vision of the enchanted casita cracking up, she fears the worst, her apprehension shared by Abuela and by Luisa, who begins to find her Herculean feats an effort. She reveals the unsuspected vulnerability beneath her mighty strength in the song, “Surface Pressure,” another standout.

Feeling that her lack of a gift has let the family down — and in need of some uplifting self-validation, in accordance with the Disney rulebook — Mirabel takes it upon herself to investigate what’s jeopardizing the magic, a quest that takes her through hidden passages and vast chambers inside the walls of the house to track down her mysterious Uncle Bruno (John Leguizamo), who disappeared years earlier.

Much of the movie’s considerable charm comes from the fact that despite the magical elements inherent even in its title, the story is basically about the dynamics of any large, close-knit family of contrasting personalities. The majority of the Madrigals’ gifts correspond to qualities often found among more ordinary mortals — the tradition-bound grandmother; the nurturing mother; the impossibly pretty golden-child sister (whose mean-girl attitude is frequently directed at Mirabel); and the selfless, hardworking older sibling, burdened by a sense of responsibility. Mirabel is basically any teenager perceived as unexceptional, who really just wants to be seen and acknowledged for her own special traits.

The characters who have married into the family are equally recognizable types: Mirabel’s father, Agustín (Wilmer Valderrama), is a lovably clumsy dad who dotes on all the women that dominate the household; and there’s a life-of-the-party uncle like Pepa’s husband, Félix (Mauro Castillo), in every family.

As much as the story hinges on Mirabel discovering what threatens the Madrigal magic and endangers their refuge, on a more fundamental level it’s about this big, complicated group reestablishing its harmony, learning to appreciate, even celebrate, one another’s qualities, whether they are extravagant or simple. And it’s about a community coming together to rebuild what’s lost and fortify one another in the process.

Those sentiments are expertly drawn out by the excellent voice cast and evoked in Miranda’s flavorful songs, including two numbers written in Spanish: “Dos Oruguitas,” performed by Colombian singer-songwriter Sebastián Yatra, is a soulful allegorical retelling of the love story between Abuela Alma and her late husband; and “Colombia, Mi Encanto” is a stirring homeland salute sung by national pop superstar Carlos Vives. In a nice touch of artistic continuity, Alma’s singing voice is provided by Miranda’s In the Heights Abuela, Olga Merediz.

The film continues Disney’s reach for more diverse representation in its animated features, following recent titles Moana , Raya and the Last Dragon and Pixar’s Coco , which shares a Latin American setting but is entirely different in its distinctly Mexican sensibility.

The colors of Encanto are sumptuous, as is the marvelous detail in the costumes and production design, nowhere more so than the Madrigals’ truly animated house — a merchandizing opportunity waiting to happen. The natural settings are even more beautiful, notably a river fed by cascades where Abuela takes Mirabel to share her story. And the animal life that’s so much a part of the classic Disney toon is not neglected, with a cheeky toucan “voiced” by Alan Tudyk and a whole menagerie that appears in connection to one character’s gift, including a jaguar, tapirs, capybaras, even cute rats. Luisa’s rounding up of the wandering donkeys gets big laughs.

Disney clearly recognizes the potential to reach family audiences over the holidays with this Thanksgiving release; the touching, tender but ultimately joyous story is going the theatrical route, with a Disney+ premiere to follow in December. Encanto is ideally paired with Far From the Tree , a lovely seven-minute short, written and directed by Natalie Nourigat, which mirrors the feature’s themes of family and the safety of home in its captivating story of a strict but loving raccoon parent struggling to keep its curious offspring from harm.

Full credits

Distributor: Disney Production company: Walt Disney Animation Studios Cast: Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, Angie Cepeda, Wilmer Valderrama, Diane Guererro, Jessica Darrow, Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, John Leguizamo, Maluma, Alan Tudyk Directors: Jared Bush, Byron Howard Co-director: Charise Castro Smith Screenwriters: Charise Castro Smith, Jared Bush; story by Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith, Jason Hand, Nancy Kruse, Lin-Manuel Miranda Producers: Yvett Merino, Clark Spencer Executive producer: Jennifer Lee Directors of photography: Nathan Detroit Warner, Alessandro Jacomini Production designer: Ian Gooding Music: Germaine Franco Original songs: Lin-Manuel Miranda Editor: Jeremy Milton Sound designer: Nia Hansen Visual effects supervisor: Scott Kersavage Casting: Jamie Sparer Roberts

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Encanto Reviews

One of Disney's most magical animated movies yet

Full Review | Jul 26, 2023

A heartfelt watch that families will undoubtedly latch onto.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 25, 2023

To cap it all off, the story by Jared Bush, Bryon Howard, and Charise Castro Smith focuses on empathy perfectly. It’s a wonderful watch for the whole family.

Full Review | Feb 10, 2023

What makes this particular instalment of Disney dream-weaving a little bit different is texture. Pulling from a colourful Central American tradition that features brilliant cotton and woollen embroidery, we can almost feel the threads of every garment...

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 5, 2022

By exploring the traditional and non-traditional nature of family, their most common modern go-to theme, they keep connected to their familiar and beloved roots while taking audiences on unfamiliar journeys.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 26, 2022

It is in its overall focus that Encanto grasps at richer themes about how the family's magic is only part of what defines them.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 23, 2022

Absolutely a must if you’re into this sort of thing, and it’s a very easy, engaging sit even if you aren’t.

Full Review | Aug 20, 2022

The screenplay has dark undertones, as all good magic realism does, but this is rooted in the troubled social history of Columbia.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 16, 2022

Encanto is one of the most aesthetically arresting and epically emotional animated features of the year, complete with a cast of colorful and captivating characters who are sure to become new fan favorites.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Jul 14, 2022

Vibrant, rich, tender, sincere and lively.

Full Review | Jul 8, 2022

A fun and dazzling musical adventure that celebrates the power of familia.

Full Review | Jun 23, 2022

At its best when it's intimate and warm, Encanto's fast-paced adventure sequences and rampant physical comedy can be hit or miss. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Jun 22, 2022

An impactful view of generational trauma told through impeccable songs, beautiful animation, and a moving story.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Apr 4, 2022

ENCANTO is a visually stunning animated film with wonderful songs and score, a deep, resonating emotional core and just a very positive, charming vibe to it.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Mar 15, 2022

Love the music and the cultural urgency and accuracy of Encanto. The richness, poetry, [and] resiliance of the Colombian culture... makes Encanto such a refreshing thrill.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 4, 2022

Encanto is a Disney film that delights without smashing expectations. Its easy to forget that the target audience for this genre are simply interested in fun and wonder, something that this movie delivers in spades.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 3, 2022

Gorgeously animated, relatable narrative, and admirable themes!

Full Review | Original Score: B | Feb 27, 2022

"A spirit of communal celebration persists even after a first-act ceremony takes a turn for the ominous, and fleeting moments of chisme between cousins provide the movies breakneck pacing with instantly relatable doses of Latino-family bonding."

Full Review | Feb 21, 2022

Surface Pressure unlocked the movie for me and made it more compelling than what I thought it would be - the inevitable discovery of Mirabel's gift... it's a discovery borne out of a family's denial.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Feb 18, 2022

Disney deserves some credit for abandoning its typical formula with Encanto. You wont see a princess sing songs about personal actualization. The film celebrates community and doesnt even have a villain.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Feb 17, 2022

Review: Disney’s animated musical ‘Encanto’ delivers an empathetic brand of charm

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They’re gifted and they’re kooky, even a little spooky. It’s not the Addams Family but the Magical Madrigals. “Encanto,” the latest Disney Animation film, sweeps audiences away to a colorful, enchanted world of Colombian magical realism, introducing the Madrigal family, who have all been granted extraordinary gifts except one member, our heroine, Mirabel ( Stefanie Beatriz ), who has yet to discover her own magic.

Jared Bush and Byron Howard, who co-wrote and co-directed the Oscar-winning “Zootopia,” have teamed with Charise Castro Smith for writing and directing duties on “Encanto,” while Jason Hand, Nancy Kruse and Lin-Manuel Miranda contributed to the story. The result is an animated musical that’s typically rousing and compassionate, rooted in the kind of therapy-inspired personal lessons about self-worth that often underpin these movies, soundtracked by Latin pop tunes written by Miranda.

The Madrigal family magic was borne of extreme trauma and pain when matriarch Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero) lost her husband while fleeing violence in their village. In desperation, she cried out for protection for herself and her infant triplets, and a magical candle raised mountains around a charmed casita, where she has raised her family since. Each Madrigal receives their gift in a coming-of-age ceremony, with powers rangingfrom super strength, high-powered hearing or talking to animals to spinning flowers out of thin air, shape-shifting, future divining, weather controlling or food healing.

The only exception to the magical rule so far is the sweet, smart Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), who never received her gift and has since felt like the family outcast, bending over backward to earn her place. As she starts to see cracks in the foundation of their beloved casita, Mirabel probes deeper into the family’s magic. She ultimately realizes that all of her family members are caught in the trap of perfectionism, believing that they have to use their gifts in the ways others want them to without remaining authentic to themselves and their desires.

The animation is a vibrantly hued and energetic swirl of almost nonstop motion, and Miranda’s songs skip from genre to genre, from traditional Disney ballads to reggaeton-inspired tunes and even a tribute to Colombia’s own rock goddess, Shakira. The script is fast and furious, packed with jokes and references. There are times where you wish everything would slow down for a moment to allow time to get to know some of the supporting characters better, but the story of “Encanto” is refreshingly, and satisfyingly, swift and contained.

Mirabel’s magic shines through in who she has been all along: a good listener, empathetic and caring. She allows her family members to share their stories and vulnerabilities and creates a safe space for their authenticity. With her diminutive stature, round glasses and curly hair, she’s like a mini super-therapist for her family; indeed, sometimes finding that person who allows you to be yourself, whatever that may be, does feel like the greatest gift of all. It’s a simple but resonant tale, but “Encanto” is a charmed and charming film that just might offer a bit of healing too.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

Rated: PG, for some thematic elements and mild peril Running time: 1 hour, 39 minutes Playing: Starts Nov. 24 in general release

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“ Encanto ” is a lively, lovely, lushly enveloping digitally animated musical fairy tale. It’s the 60th animated feature produced by the Walt Disney company, and to borrow a phrase from the old Disney TV series, it’s set in a wonderful world of color — a rapturously imagined, rainbow-gorgeous village tucked inside the misty green mountains of Colombia, where the members of the Madrigal family lead a magical existence. The ornate designer tiles of La Casa Madrigal, their idyllic mansion, turn into a synchronized army of domestic helpers, and each family member is endowed with his or her own superhuman gift. Actually, one of them has no gift. That would be the heroine, Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz), who is just like us — which means, within her family, that she’s the odd girl out.

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Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard (the co-writer and co-director of “Zootopia”), with Charise Castro Smith as co-director, “Encanto” has been visualized with a vivacious naturalistic glow (swirling flower petals, eye-candy pastels) that, at moments, is nearly psychedelic. The songs, by Lin-Manuel Miranda , are syncopatedly infectious, word-weavingly clever, and unabashedly romantic; they keep the film bopping. And the whole picture is intricate and accomplished enough to make the era when your average Disney house animated feature was several tiers below that of Pixar seem like ancient history. Yet for all the dazzle on display, none of it would mean much if “Encanto” didn’t present its heroine’s moving journey in a way that kept surprising you. That’s the key to enthralling animation — it stays one jubilant beat ahead of the audience.

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It may be ironic, but it’s certainly undeniable that a key force that turned girl power into an engine of popular culture was Walt Disney Studios. You could, if you wanted, date the age of contemporary girl power back to two Disney films: “The Little Mermaid” (1989), with the self-actualizing retro moxie of its title heroine, and then, the following year, “Pretty Woman,” which put its stamp on the age of hip princess feminism as surely as “Sex and the City” did eight years later. The Disney animators kept the girl-power torch burning in everything from “Brave” to “Sofia the First,” but it was in “ Frozen ,” the 2013 global megasmash, that Disney forged a girl-power epiphany. Elsa, the princess who could freeze anything in her orbit, was like a superhero endowed with powers she experienced as too strong; she was a primal metaphor for the doubts a girl can feel about unleashing the fullness of her own being.

“Encanto,” while neither as grand nor as haunting as “Frozen,” is very much a follow-up rhapsody on what it feels like for a girl to reach for abilities that will unleash her true self. Mirabel, with laughing saucer eyes and the vibe of a brainy freshman at Stanford, is kind, spunky, and self-sufficient, and she accepts her place within her family — or, at least, works awfully hard to. But she’s like the only mortal in a clan of X-Men, and for her that’s dispiriting.

Her mother, the doting Julieta (Angie Cepeda), has the ability to heal people’s ailments with her cooking, but Mirabel’s siblings and relatives tend to be self-obsessed superstars of their own imaginations. Like, for instance, her comically hulking, low-voiced sister Luisa (Jessica Darrow), who has super-strength but defines her existence entirely through that attribute, or her Aunt Pepa (Carolina Gaitán), a tempestuous sort who carries a mini rainstorm over her head, or her shape-shifting cousin Camilo (Rhenzy Feliz), who suffers from a weak identity, or, most prominently, her sister Isa (Diane Guerrero), a haughty “perfect” princess who can make flowers bloom anywhere, which means that she never loses an opportunity to flaunt her flowery narcissism.

All these powers and personalities will come into play, and we’ve seen enough fables of superheroism to presume that Mirabel will ultimately locate her own magical destiny. But “Encanto” is subtler than that. The magic of the Madrigals is real, but it’s got a dark backstory (they were refugees whose fate was changed by a miracle and is now sustained by a precarious burning candle). Their magic flows into the town, infusing and protecting the entire community of Encanto. It’s a kind of utopia. Until, quite literally, it starts to come apart at the seams.

When the candle begins to flicker, and the Madrigal house starts breaking into fissures and cracks, Mirabel, now under the suspicious eye of the family matriarch, Abuela (María Cecilia Botero), takes it upon herself to investigate, and the movie turns into a domestic psychological detective story. A key figure is Bruno, Mirabel’s uncle, voiced with winningly insecure aplomb by John Leguizamo. His ability to see the future got him ostracized — because he kept getting blamed for the tiniest bit of bad news. But Bruno holds the key to what turns out to be an emotionally engrossing puzzle.

An important clue, Mirabel is told, lies in her trying to get along with the obnoxious Isa. But why would that solve anything? Their spiky and rousing duet, “What Else Can I Do?,” gives us a rapturous hint. That’s one of eight original songs Miranda wrote for the film, all of them good, several of them gems, like the strong-woman Luisa ripping through the exhilaratingly knotty wordplay of “Surface Pressure” or the ensemble number “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” which has a riff catchy enough to rival Camila Cabello’s “Havana.” The whole movie has a mercurial, mood-hopping free-form vibe that, at its best, suggests Disney with a touch of “Yellow Submarine.” When Isa begins to see the light, instead of beautiful flowers she produces a cactus. Prickly, but at least it’s her. That’s the kind of movie “Encanto” is. Is there a villain? For a while, it sure seems like it. But it turns out that the most dastardly thing in this canny and touching fairy tale is to ignore the love under our noses.

Reviewed at AMC Lincoln Square, Nov. 8, 2021. MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 99 MIN.

• Production: A Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures release of a Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures production. Producers: Yvett Merino, Clark Spencer. Executive producer: Jennifer Lee.
• Crew: Directors: Jared Bush, Byron Howard. Co-director: Charise Castro Smith. Screenplay: Charise Castro Smith, Jared Bush. Camera: Alessandro Jacomini, Daniel Rice, Nathan Detroit Warner. Editor: Jeremy Milton. Music: Germaine Franco, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
• With: Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, Diane Guerrero, Angie Cepeda, John Leguizamo, Jessica Darrow, Wilmer Valderrama, Carolina Gaitán, Maura Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz.

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Disney and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Encanto is a musical masterpiece

The studio’s latest animated feature uses magic and songs to bolster a story about family

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by Petrana Radulovic

Encanto , Disney’s newest animated movie, is a fantasy musical — exactly the kind of thing that made the studio’s name over the past 80-plus years. But while the film uses a typical Disney setup of a young misfit finding her way in the world, it focuses on a tighter, more contained story than previous Disney movies, and it’s one of the most emotionally compelling films of Disney’s Revival Era. From Zootopia directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush, with a script from Bush and playwright Charise Castro Smith, and music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Encanto is a masterpiece that makes the Disney musical-with-a-splash-of-magic formula soar.

[Ed. note: This piece contains some light setup spoilers for Encanto. ]

Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) is the only member of her family who wasn’t blessed with a special ability. Each Madrigal has a unique power, from super-strength to shapeshifting, gifted to them by the family’s magical house when they came of age. Except for Mirabel, each Madrigal opened a new door the house created just for them, and received an ability that they then used to help their community.

All the Madrigals look to family matriarch Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero) for guidance. Without any powers of her own, however, Mirabel struggles to impress her stern grandmother. On the night of her younger cousin’s gift ceremony, Mirabel notices the house begin to shake, as cracks appear in its walls. When she alerts her family, however, the house appears fine and stable. But Mirabel, sure that she has seen something amiss, sets out to discover what’s wrong, and ultimately save the family’s magic.

While magic is certainly a fun and important part of Encanto , the film is about complex family bonds first and foremost. The potential of the Madrigals’ magic vanishing is the catalyst that pushes Mirabel on her quest, but every clue she finds leads her back to her family. The magic is a metaphor, in a way that goes deeper than past Disney movies.

Each character’s ability more or less correlates to the role they play in the family. For instance, Mirabel’s eldest sister, Isabela (Diane Guerrero), is the perfect golden child, and she makes flowers bloom with just a wave of the hand. Overly emotional Tía Pepa (Carolina Gaitán) brews storms whenever she gets upset. So when Mirabel seeks the cause of the threat, she isn’t out to confront a nefarious villain, or even a traitor in the midst of her idyllic community. She must interrogate her relationships with her family in order to find the root of the problem.

Disney animated films have historically pitted bold heroes against scheming villains, but this is a new type of story, one where the conflict stems from real family scenarios that just happen to be bolstered by magic. Recent Disney movies have shifted away from classical cackling villains in favor of more nebulous threats , but still, those threats were posited as big, bad things to conquer. In Encanto , the threat is smaller and more specific, which shifts the story from that typical good vs. evil dynamic into something more grounded. Using animation, magic, and music to explore more complicated and relatable themes points to an exciting new direction for Disney.

In order to balance the large cast, the Encanto team smartly does away with extra characters, elaborate settings, and cutesy animal sidekicks. (There are a few cute animals, but they don’t commandeer scenes.) The focus is on one family, in one house, dealing with one specific problem. But that doesn’t make the movie any less complex than Disney movies that trek across multiple locations, like Judy and Nick city-hopping across Zootopia, or ones with sneaky villains, like Frozen ’s Hans.

In fact, because it’s so tightly centered on the Madrigals, the family’s complicated dynamics — including Mirabel’s relationships with her relatives, and their dealings with each other — have more space for fuller explorations. This is a story about family members who love each other, but can’t fully understand each other, leading to beautifully realistic interactions built around affection, expectations, and dysfunction, all bolstered by the magical metaphor woven throughout.

The family story is strong on its own, but the visuals and the music help the movie reach new heights. The Madrigal family gifts lend themselves neatly to gorgeous visuals, like the elaborate pocket dimensions family members use as rooms in the house, or the physical manifestations of their powers. Those splashes of fantasy are especially effective when compared to Mirabel’s relatively small and plain room, and her completely regular non-powered self.

But even without the magic, the Madrigal house is lovingly rendered with specific detail, from the tiles to the family dining set, which solidify the home’s coziness and the family’s closeness. Additionally, each member of the family has a distinct character design, from super-strong Luisa (Jessica Darrow), with her bulging muscles, to cousin Dolores (Adassa), who has super-hearing, and thus tiptoes around like a careful cat. This is a family where everyone looks related, even though they don’t look like exact clones of each other. (Cough, Frozen , cough.)

As for the music, all the songs are infectiously catchy, but they also all serve significant storytelling purposes. While Disney makes a lot of musicals, not all of them use music in this way (cough, the Frozen troll song , cough). But from the get-go, the music in Encanto is deliberate. The first song, for instance, introduces every single member of the Madrigal family and their powers, personalities, and what Mirabel thinks of them, with an infectiously catchy Latin pop beat and fast-paced lyrics that set the stage much like the opening song of Hamilton .

Disney has returned over and over to heroes’ journeys and plucky, bright-eyed protagonists looking out on the horizon, dreaming of adventure or romance. Encanto is not that. It’s something new and dynamic: a movie about relatives who love each other very much, but have a hard time understanding one another. It’s a movie about trying to hold up a legacy, a movie about one misfit who just wants to make her grandmother proud. It’s a movie where saving the day doesn’t mean questing across a magical land, or defeating a bad guy. But most of all, it’s a movie about family where the hero doesn’t set out on her own, and instead must actually look inward to bridge those family relationships. It’s a rare Disney movie that’s about a family but is also about family.

Encanto is out in theaters on Nov. 24.

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Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS), like most major animation studios, makes movies for families. Animated films are expensive, they take about 4-5 years to make, they need to appeal to a wide audience, and that means pulling in families. Doing this for decades has reinforced the notion that animated films are family films, and yet they’re rarely about families. Look at the last decade of WDAS pictures and while family is a part of the plot, they’re not really what the movies are about. Encanto changes that by making a family film that’s entirely about family. Directors Byron Howard , Jared Bush , and Charise Castro Smith use a big, joyous musical framework to explore how the expectations of family can distract us from what really matters in our familial relationships. With catchy tunes, gorgeous animation, and a lovely story, Encanto is another winner from Disney Animation.

Alma Madrigal ( María Cecilia Botero ), her husband, and their three children fled persecution, and in their most desperate hour, prayed for a miracle. The miracle not only repelled those who sought to bring them harm, but also became the basis for an enchanted town in the mountains of Columbia. The miracle not only provides a magical house for the Madrigals but also gives each of them a unique power when they turn a certain age like the ability to change the weather or heal others. That is, every Madrigal receives a gift except Alma’s granddaughter Mirabel ( Stephanie Beatriz ). Mirabel tries to keep her spirits up and be a supportive family member, but when she discovers that the magic may be fading, she resolves to figure out the cause and save the Family Madrigal.

RELATED: 'Encanto': New Song Clip Introduces Audiences to the Familia Madrigal Through a Song

Not to spoil anything about Encanto , but I love that the movie isn’t about Mirabel discovering she had a gift all along because that kind of works at cross-purposes for what the movie is trying to do. As Mirabel investigates, she learns that these “gifts” have become almost curses for the family members who have them. Her sister Luisa ( Jessica Darrow ) has super-strength, but that has manifested as Luisa feeling like she always needs to be strong, never complain, and always carry the burden. Her other sister Isabela ( Diane Guerrero ) is “perfect”, but Mirabel learns that such a perception has made Isabela feel like she can never be creative or do anything other than create beautiful flower arrangements with her powers. And as for her uncle Bruno ( John Leguizamo ), he disappeared and now no one even talks about him because his ability to see into the future caused so much strife.

I don’t know what you would call this problem (“toxic talent nurturing?”), but it’s a thoughtful approach where family identity becomes tied to what you can do rather than simply being a member of the family. That’s a tricky line to walk because it’s not like Mirabel is the “black sheep”; she’s not a screw-up, and she’s incredibly supportive and empathetic, but she’s also considered an “embarrassment” when the metric for being a good Madrigal is what you can do for the family and the town rather than being a good sister or daughter or cousin. For any family member who has ever felt outshined because they weren’t as “talented” as a sibling or cousin, Encanto comes in with a warm hug and says, “You are enough because family is enough.”

That comforting, heartfelt vibe flows through the entire film. The color palette is stunning, and it kicks into overdrive during the musical numbers where you can feel the animation team really letting loose and taking advantage of the medium where a traditional musical would be bound by setting. Encanto has no such problem and provides some the best musical numbers Disney has produced since The Princess and the Frog . With music by Lin-Manuel Miranda , who never met a tune he couldn’t get stuck inside your head for weeks on end, Encanto still feels like its own musical entity rather than mimicking the music he produced for Moana or Hamilton .

It’s probably a cliché by now to say that Disney made a family movie with heart, but I don’t know what to tell you. They did it again. Encanto simply works as a great movie for families. I wish my in-laws could take their kids and grandkids to see it right now because I know they’d all have a great time and probably tear up a time or two. It may not be a groundbreaking statement to uphold the value of family for the sake of family, but Encanto manages to do it without forcing an antagonist or doubling back on its thesis that Mirabel doesn’t need a superpower to be special. At a time when people are trying to argue that they’re “brands” and they’re constantly trying to prove their “value” by making the catchiest social media post, it’s really nice that there’s a movie that says you have value not because of a talent but because family means never having to be in a talent competition.

Encanto opens in theaters on November 24th.

KEEP READING: 'Encanto' Character Posters Show off the Magical Powers of Familia Madrigal

• Encanto (2021)

'Encanto' is the best Disney animated movie in the past 6 years

• Warning: There are minor spoilers ahead for "Encanto."
• "Encanto," Disney's 60th animated feature, is its best in years.
• It uses a relatable story about an extended family, rather than a villain, to draw you in.

" Encanto " is a beautiful and vibrant celebration of a family, filled with the enchanting magic of "Beauty and the Beast" and the heart of Disney and Pixar's "Coco."

Walt Disney Animation's 60th film is the company's best in the past six years since the back-to-back releases of " Zootopia " and " Moana " in 2015. (Coincidentally, two of its codirectors, Byron Howard and Jared Bush, also worked on "Zootopia." There's obviously some magic in that pairing.)

The story follows the Madrigal family, who've been blessed with magic after tragedy. Their large, colorful home, lovingly called La Casita, feels as if it operates according to the same charming magic that enchanted the objects in 1991's " Beauty and the Beast ." The shutters wave, the tiles dance, and items move magically around the kitchen.

In addition to the magical house, all the Madrigal children gain a magical gift when they turn 5, such as super strength or the ability to heal. In turn, those gifts are used to help strengthen and serve their community.

Every Madrigal has a role to play, except the teenage Maribel (Stephanie Beatriz), who never received a magical gift when she came of age.

Though Maribel's family constantly tells her she's just as special as everyone else, it's pretty tough to believe when you're surrounded by a family of people who are constantly admired and respected for all of their amazing contributions to their village.

It also doesn't help that Maribel feels at odds with her "perfect sister" Isabela (played beautifully by Diane Guerrero), who looks like a perfect Disney princess right down to her dress and can create flowers at will.

As Maribel tries to come to terms with accepting herself, a mysterious force threatens to take away the family's magic. Maribel takes it upon herself to find the root of the problem and save the family's magic before it disappears.

'Encanto' has no real villain. That's one of its strengths.

One of the most impressive things about "Encanto" is that it doesn't have a tangible villain, a rarity in a Disney film.

At its core, "Encanto," from Howard, Bush, and the codirector Charise Castro Smith, focuses on the pressures of living up to unrealistic expectations and family ideals. What happens when those expectations are too high? What happens when you don't speak up and you cave under the weight of the pressure?

Though the Madrigal family seems idyllic to villagers from the outside, once the layers are pulled back, you slowly realize there are cracks in the foundation of what's holding the magical family together. This ranges from a black sheep in the family named Bruno, whom the family refuses to acknowledge (Disney really has it out for characters named Bruno this year ) to other family members who feel under constant pressure to be perfect.

By the film's end, you may feel inspired to seek out and make amends with any family members you haven't talked to in a while.

Yeah, "Encanto" gets deep (bring some tissues), but don't worry. It's not too deep for kids. Most of that stuff will probably go over their heads, as they'll be too busy immersed in the catchy musical numbers.

Lin-Manuel Miranda's music is top-notch. He's quickly becoming the Mouse's secret weapon.

The "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote and produced eight original songs for "Encanto," with a score from Germaine Franco.

Highlights include an infectious opener, "The Family Madrigal," which introduces the extended family; the movie's titular theme, "Colombia, Mi Encanto," which seamlessly weaves Spanish into its lyrics; and Maribel's song, "Waiting on a Miracle," which gives "Let It Go"-from-"Frozen" vibes.

When you hear, "Dos Oruguitas," which is the first song Miranda ever wrote in Spanish, you may get a bit emotional as it comes during a pivotal moment. Fans of Miranda will notice his rap stamp on the movie's final song, "All of You."

Miranda is easily becoming one of the studio's go-to secret weapons for its musicals. He also contributed music to 2016's " Moana ," earning him a Grammy and Oscar nomination. Next, he's working on music for Disney's live-action "The Little Mermaid."

Miranda's prolificacy brings to mind Howard Ashman, the Disney lyricist who delivered hit after hit for a trifecta of Disney classics — " The Little Mermaid ," " Beauty and the Beast ," and " Aladdin " — until his death at the age of 40.

The level of detail in the film's animation is impressive

Disney, once again, has stepped it up a notch when it comes to the attention to detail in its animation.

Rats are shown during a few moments in "Encanto." Whenever the camera focuses on their small faces, it feels as if you're looking at the real thing. If rats were cute, that is.

When Maribel finds herself covered in sand and is removing small grains from her hair, you're convinced you're looking at the real deal.

That's a testament to Disney (and Pixar's) work on perfecting and testing sand in some of its shorts over the years, from 2016's "Piper" to this year's "Far From the Tree," a delightful short featuring a raccoon family that plays in front of "Encanto."

We may be entering a new golden age of Disney classics

One of the best things "Encanto" does is deliver a Latino family that authentically embodies that lived experience.

Every family member isn't one shade of brown. The Madrigal family is filled with Latinos of all shades, including darker-skinned Latinos, and every shade in between accurately reflects what an extended Latino household may look like today.

It's important to note that "Encanto" takes the time to tell a story not only about an individual but a multigenerational family as well. If "Encanto" were made 10 or 20 years ago, Isabela, the "perfect" daughter longing to be seen as something more, most likely would've been the de facto lead and main storyline. She fits the obvious Disney Princess archetype, a necessary ingredient for most of Disney's past hits.

In recent years, Disney has pushed away from stereotypical princess narratives to focus on stories and characters that are more reflective of the world around us. And they're just as good, if not better than, some of the older princess tales.

Much of that surely has to do with the changing of the guard at Disney in recent years. Ever since Jennifer Lee directed 2013's hit " Frozen " and was later named chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation in June 2018 , viewers have watched a different type of Disney lead, one who puts family and friends ahead of a love interest ("Frozen") and who has deeper communities ties (" Frozen II ," " Raya and the Last Dragon "). They don't look pencil-thin. They're quirky, spunky, and relatable. Maribel follows that trend.

After Disney's triumph in this year's "Raya" and, now, "Encanto," we may be at the dawn of a new era of Disney classics. We're certainly in a new era of what a Disney princess heroine looks like.

"Encanto," also featuring the voice talents of María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Wilmer Valderrama, Angie Cepeda, Jessica Darrow, and (Disney's lucky charm) Alan Tudyk, is in theaters November 24.

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Encanto review: Disney's magical realist take on superheroes is charming but breezy

The new animated musical is set in Colombia and features original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Christian Holub is a writer covering comics and other geeky pop culture. He's still mad about 'Firefly' getting canceled.

The latest stop on Disney Animation Studios' world tour, following Raya and the Last Dragon 's riff on Fantasy Asia earlier this year, is Colombia. The most famous work of art to come out of Colombia (and a strong contender for the designation of greatest novel ever written) is Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude , and the studio's new film Encanto pays homage to that magical realist masterwork with its story of a multi-generational family blessed by wonderful enchantments.

It's hard to miss the rhyme between "Encanto," which is both the title of the film and a word often used by its characters to refer to the miracle that made a home for them deep in the mountains, and "Macondo," the town founded by Marquez's unforgettable Buendia family in the middle of the jungle. Of course, One Hundred Years of Solitude delves deeply into sex, politics, and the bloodstained history of imperialism in Latin America — none of which are quite suitable subjects for a Disney kids' movie. So for its structure and rhythm, Encanto leans on more familiar U.S. media touchstones.

Like the X-Men, almost every member of the Madrigal family is blessed with their own unique power: Luisa (Jessica Darrow) is strong enough to lift anything, while Isabela (Diane Guerrero) can make beautiful flowers bloom all around her. But like The Umbrella Academy , the story of Encanto focuses on the only family member who doesn't have an evident superpower: Mirabel ( Stephanie Beatriz ), the younger sister of Luisa and Isabela who desperately wants to prove she can support her family and community just as well as they can. Her lack of power seems to suggest that the family's enchantment is fading, so Mirabel decides to try investigating the source of this decline and see if it can be fixed.

Maribel embarks on a search for her prodigal uncle Bruno ( John Leguizamo ), who exiled himself from the family after his precognitive visions were dismissed as self-fulfilling doomsaying instead of helpful warnings against coming troubles. Mirabel's quest to find the truth involves reaching out to various other family members for help as well. Through charming songs, we learn that Luisa is starting to crack under the pressure of always needing to be strong, while Isabela actually possesses the spirit of a colorful, rebel artist beneath her golden child facade.

Encanto is directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, but the film's original songs were composed by Hamilton maestro Lin-Manuel Miranda . Together with Netflix's Vivo and Tick, Tick...Boom! , that makes Encanto the third film to heavily feature Miranda's touch in as many months (to say nothing of In the Heights earlier this year). It's no crime to be such a prolific artist, especially with COVID-19 delaying releases, but it also doesn't feel like the Encanto soundtrack is Miranda's best work. The songs are breezy and fun, they communicate the character beats they need to, but they probably won't be stuck in your head for days afterward.

It's not easy squeezing a multi-generational magical epic into an hour and a half, and some gaps in Encanto 's mythology might leave you scratching your head (if it's true that Mirabel doesn't have a power of her own, then why does she seem to possess such a unique level of affinity and control over the family's living house…?). But a smiling tale about familial reconciliation and learning to see your relatives for who they are rather than who you wish they were is never unwelcome. In this story, sometimes families condemned to 100 years of solitude do get a second chance on Earth. B

Related content:

• Lin-Manuel Miranda's Disney animated musical Encanto reveals enchanting first trailer
• Vivo review: Lin-Manuel Miranda's rapping kinkajou movie could use a little less rapping kinkajou
• Tick, Tick...Boom! review: Jonathan Larson's story shines in a musical that sings from the heart

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Encanto Review

The lineage of Disney castles goes all the way back to Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs — but there’s never been one like La Casa Madrigal in Encanto . The canonical 60th animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios (the actual numbering is far more complex) takes Zootropolis directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard — here with co-director Charise Castro Smith — and teams them up with Moana songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda for a blast of colour, energy and South American rhythms; all of which permeate through the Madrigal house. It’s a beautiful, imaginative canvas (stairs that transform into slides, TARDIS-like rooms) on which to tell a personal family story, eschewing the expansive fantasy kingdoms of Frozen and Raya And The Last Dragon for a more intimate adventure that never feels small.

The latest addition to the Disney-heroine canon is Mirabel Madrigal (a spirited Stephanie Beatriz) who fits neatly alongside Moana, Anna and Raya — sweet, sardonic, and ready to chase down her destiny. Except, Mirabel’s purpose is unclear. Everyone else in her family has been granted magic powers (from typical X-Men fare like weather control to more idiosyncratic abilities: Mirabel’s mother makes food that literally heals you when eaten) by the same mysterious force that erected their enchanted home. But when the time came for Mirabel to receive her ‘gift’, she got nothing, forced to swallow her disappointment while her family flourished around her.

Lin-Manuel Miranda's songs once again display his abundant talent for magical melodies and wondrous wordplay

Instead of a quest narrative that sends Mirabel out into the world, Encanto is a mystery which sends her further into the hidden secrets of her own home. Can she work out the part she’ll play in the Madrigal destiny, reconnect with clairvoyant black sheep Bruno ( John Leguizamo ), and discover why she’s seeing cracks in the casa walls that nobody else can see? Mirabel’s journey plays out with nuance, confronting Abuela’s (María Cecilia Botero) tragic past and need for tradition at the expense of progress, while facing up to the strained relationships with her empowered sisters — super-strong Luisa (Jessica Darrow, a standout) and ever-perfect Isabela ( Diane Guerrero ) — that require repair. The characters are well drawn — though the lack of a sidekick like Maui or Olaf feels like a missed opportunity.

It all plays out to a set of Lin-Manuel Miranda songs — think the hip-hop/pop of In The Heights meets Moana ’s lush island vibes — that once again display his abundant talent for magical melodies and wondrous wordplay. Hyperactive ditty ‘The Family Madrigal’ offers a toe-tapping introduction to Mirabel’s extended clan; her defiant ache in ‘Waiting On A Miracle’ is classic “I want...” song terrain; and Isabela’s expressive anthem ‘What Else Can I Do?’ is a vibrant, upbeat twist on the ‘Let It Go’ formula. Whether they become as iconic as Miranda’s last clutch of Disney hits remains to be seen — but they’re in the same ballpark.

As the film brings it all home with an emotional finale that, as per recent Disney, favours rebalance over good-versus-evil brawls, you have another modern-day fairy tale that’s — appropriately enough — enchanting.

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Encanto review: disney animation is familiar, but still heartwarming & magical.

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Over the course of 59 animated movies, Disney has worked out the perfect formula for tugging at an audience's heartstrings: create an earnest and relatable main character, weave equal amounts of joy and melancholy into the story, and sprinkle in some catchy tunes. The studio's 60th feature,  Encanto , follows this formula down to the letter, making for a familiar tale. And yet, it's hard to resist the charms cast by directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush, as well as co-director Charise Castro Smith (Bush and Smith wrote the screenplay, based on a story from all three directors, Jason Hand, Nancy Kruse, and Lin-Manuel Miranda). This original tale, which already holds plenty of magic within its plot, is the perfect dose of comfort food for families at the end of this trying year. Though it can't quite break out of the Disney mold, Encanto is greatly aided by a unique story, a delightful cast of characters, and a vital message.

Encanto starts out with a helpful bit of exposition to introduce viewers to the eccentric Madrigal family. Years ago, matriarch Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero) was blessed with a miracle in the form of a magical house, a practically sentient building that gifts special abilities to each of Abuela's descendants. Abuela's children and grandchildren all received gifts with no issues... until Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), a plucky, eager girl who just longs to make her family proud. For some inexplicable reason, Mirabel is the only Madrigal without any special gift, thus making her an outsider within her close-knit family. Her efforts to be useful to Abuela sometimes lead to more problems than intended, but when the Madrigals' house starts to lose its magic, Mirabel just might be the only one who can save it.

Related:  Byron Howard, Jared Bush, & Charise Castro Smith Interview: Encanto

In many ways,  Encanto resembles another recent Disney animated feature: 2016's  Moana . Not only do both movies center on a vibrant young girl eager to save her home, but they also include music from  Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Plot-wise,  Encanto manages to stand out on its own. The Madrigals are fascinating characters and their magical existence seems to extend out into the real world too; as an audience member, it's easy to be enamored with their house and powers. The filmmakers clearly had a lot of fun developing each Madrigal gift, which range from super-strength to the ability to talk to animals.  Encanto is bursting with bright colors and beautifully rendered visuals, particularly when it comes to the house at its center. With tiles that drag people along like conveyor belts and stairs that turn into slides, Howard, Bush, and Smith have implemented plenty of clever quirks with the help of art directors Camille Andre and Mehrdad Isvandi.

Encanto also scores some points by not having a traditional villain. Mirabel's conflict — her desire to prove her worth even when she has no powers to speak of — is compelling, but feels similar to other unlikely protagonists. However, in trying to work out what's wrong with the house, Mirabel pulls other internal conflicts out of her family members, most notably with her sisters Luisa (Jessica Darrow) and Isabela (Diane Guerrero). Both girls seem pleased with their gifts, but the pressure to be perfect and useful rankles. By digging into that,  Encanto  finds some real-world relevance that is bound to hit home for some viewers, despite all the magic that surrounds the story.

With a songwriter like Miranda on board, it was a given that  Encanto 's music would be catchy. And indeed, the rapid-fire lyrics and toe-tapping beats fit in quite well with Miranda's past work. At the same time, it's hard to say if any of them will fit in among the best in Disney's history. Certain songs will elicit stronger emotions than others from audiences, and Howard, Bush, and Smith have done well in crafting fun montages for each song.  Encanto 's music is good, but not entirely necessary. There's plenty of heart within the story itself, and save for a few exceptions, such as the song that plays during flashbacks to Abuela's past, the musical element doesn't add much to the movie. Nevertheless, younger audiences will get a kick out of the familiar Disney song-and-dance routine, and even some adults will probably bob their heads along.

On top of everything else, each voice actor for  Encanto rises to the occasion to make a truly memorable cast of characters. The MVP of the movie is, expectedly, Beatriz, who once again proves herself to be incredibly skilled at voice work. She brings a lively, kindhearted touch to Mirabel. It's easy to root and care for her in her journey of self-discovery. Each member of the Madrigal family has at least one moment to shine, though John Leguizamo also deserves a shoutout for his work as black sheep Bruno. Botero also nails the fine line Abuela walks in caring for her family and wishing absolute perfection from everyone. All told, Disney likely has another hit on its hands. With  Encanto arriving in theaters just in time for the holiday season, it should be the perfect bit of entertainment for families looking for something to do. Everyone could use a bit of magic these days, and  Encanto certainly fits the bill with its heartwarming, if still familiar touch.

More: Watch The Encanto Trailer

Encanto   arrives in theaters on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. The film is 99 minutes long and is rated PG for some thematic elements and mild peril.

Encanto tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charming (and enchanted) place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—every child except one, Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might be her exceptional family’s last hope. Mirabel will seek out her missing cousin, Bruno, to discover the truth that Abuela has buried away for all of their lives.

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Common Sense Media Review

Vibrant visuals, catchy songs, moving messages.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Encanto is an animated Disney musical set in Colombia and featuring Mirabel Madrigal (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz), the youngest granddaughter in a family that protects their enchanted village with the magical powers they've had for two generations ... except for Mirabel. As she…

Why Age 6+?

Flashbacks to a confrontation with armed men who kill Mirabel's abuelo with thei

A married couple is affectionate: kisses, embraces, and partner dances in flashb

Mirabel calls her sister "stupid perfect."

Nothing on camera, but off camera, the movie has tie-ins to apparel, toys, figur

A kid drinks coffee even after being told it's for adults. Family toasts with an

Any Positive Content?

Lots of positive messages about value of empathy and teamwork, importance of hon

The Madrigals are helpful, strong, loyal. They love one another and want to prot

Depicts multigenerational, multiracial Madrigal family, as well as Encanto villa

Includes many aspects of Colombian culture, like traditional dress, dancing, mus

Violence & Scariness

Flashbacks to a confrontation with armed men who kill Mirabel's abuelo with their swords while her abuela watches, holding newborn triplets. The family's home begins to crumble, and a nearby mountain splits in two, posing a danger to the family and entire village. Bruno is frightening at first sight but is just lonely. A character dangles from the edge of a cliff, and it looks like they're plunging to injury, but they end up fine. The house eventually falls, and it's occasionally scary to see all the family members fail in their attempts to save the house and their magic candle.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A married couple is affectionate: kisses, embraces, and partner dances in flashbacks to their wedding and other occasions.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Nothing on camera, but off camera, the movie has tie-ins to apparel, toys, figurines, even instruments.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

A kid drinks coffee even after being told it's for adults. Family toasts with an unspecified drink (presumably water) at a meal/event.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Lots of positive messages about value of empathy and teamwork, importance of honesty and acceptance in families, the need to acknowledge various talents and character strengths of people you love.

Positive Role Models

The Madrigals are helpful, strong, loyal. They love one another and want to protect and defend their family, house, town. The family exhibits the pride of serving their community, learns to accept help later in the movie. Mirabel is selfless and wants to solve problems even as she's occasionally overlooked because of her lack of superpowers.

Diverse Representations

Depicts multigenerational, multiracial Madrigal family, as well as Encanto village that's full of residents who are Black, Brown, White. Women are strong, men are supportive (in this family, husbands don't have magical abilities, but their wives and children do), and a matriarch (Abuela) leads the family and village. Colombian culture is well portrayed in form of music, costumes, dance sequences, even food, but filmmaking team, including songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda , isn't of Colombian heritage.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Educational Value

Includes many aspects of Colombian culture, like traditional dress, dancing, music, even cuisine (arepas, a national food, are made and eaten several times).

Parents need to know that Encanto is an animated Disney musical set in Colombia and featuring Mirabel Madrigal (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz ), the youngest granddaughter in a family that protects their enchanted village with the magical powers they've had for two generations ... except for Mirabel. As she helps her cousin prepare for his coming-of-magical-age ritual, she begins to question her role in the family. Expect a few scenes of violence: Mirabel's grandfather is killed by armed men (the actual death isn't shown), and supernatural events and catastrophes threaten the characters. There's also mild name-calling and affection between married characters. Themes of empathy, teamwork, and courage are clear, and there's strong diverse representation on-screen, with White, Black, and multiracial characters all part of the same family and voiced by famous Colombian and Latin American actors. Colombian culture is also well portrayed in the form of music, costumes, dance sequences, and even food, but the filmmaking team, including songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda , isn't of Colombian heritage. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (135)
• Kids say (257)

Based on 135 parent reviews

This film is everything. Truly.

It was hard for my 4 yr old granddaughter to follow, to much singing, not easy story line. if it was not for all the movment i would have left with my granddaughter. she asked to leave 3 times, but i kept hoping it would get better, what's the story.

In ENCANTO, Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz ) is a member of the magical Madrigal family, who were bestowed with supernatural gifts emanating from a miracle candle that also created their village and magical house, la casita . Unfortunately for Mirabel, while her relatives have gifts as wide-ranging as controlling the weather, super strength, making flowers grow, healing with food, shape-shifting, super hearing, and seeing the future, she didn't receive a supernatural gift during her coming-of-age ceremony. As her youngest cousin approaches the day that a magical door will reveal his gift, the family nervously prepares. On the day itself, Mirabel has a vision of the casita cracking and crumbling, and she dedicates herself to saving the Madrigals' magical home -- even if it means looking for her mysterious estranged Tio Bruno ( John Leguizamo ), who could predict the future, and putting herself in dangerous situations.

Is It Any Good?

Disney's delightful animated musical is a tribute to Colombian culture, magical realism, and the power of multigenerational families. Encanto works on multiple levels. It's a kid-friendly musical with a magical house and relatives, most of them teens and tweens. Main character Mirabel is lovable and loyal, but also the family's beloved but underappreciated underdog, which makes her easy to cheer for and relate to as she tries to prove she's worthy of the family name. Deeper still, the movie's thematic elements are an homage to magical realism, the literary genre that legendary late Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez was famous for elevating, with magical golden butterflies reminding viewers of migration, change, and hope. Beatriz is terrific as Mirabel, and the cast of Colombian actors and singers does a great job with the Germaine Franco-composed/Lin-Manuel Miranda-penned songs, particularly "The Family Madrigal," "We Don't Talk About Bruno," and "All of You." Colombian superstars Carlos Vives and Sebastián Yatra are also prominent on the authentic, cumbia-infused soundtrack (listen for the accordion and percussion!). The movie's attention to cultural detail also includes traditional dress (the embroidered, ruffled tops and skirts and the black-and-white cane hats are iconic) and the making of typical foods like the healing arepas that Mirabel's mami (Angie Cepeda) feeds family and villagers.

Beyond the cultural sensitivity (and it should be noted that, behind the scenes, none of the writer-directors -- Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Charise Castro Smith -- are Colombian), this is a funny and deeper-than-it-looks family adventure. Audiences will laugh aloud at the animal cameos (Tio Bruno's pet rats are especially entertaining) and the chorus of three village kids who pop up at various key moments for comic relief. They'll also sing along to Miranda's toe-tapping choruses "We don't talk about Bruno-no-no-no" and the Anna-and-Elsa-like duets between Mirabel and each of her two sisters -- big-and-strong Luisa (Jessica Darrow) and perfect-and-pretty Isabela (Diane Guerrero). It's a joy to watch Mirabel bravely protect her family and her town. There's also a simmering truth to the idea that people are much more than what they initially seem. Everyone has gifts and strengths, whether they're obvious or subtle, and what's meaningful is how people use them.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Encanto 's messages about embracing differences, learning to rethink weaknesses and strengths, and the importance of family togetherness. What are some other positive themes in the story?

Talk about the family dynamics in the movie. Why does Mirabel feel like she has to prove her worth to her family? How does she display courage , empathy , and teamwork ? Why are those important character strengths?

What aspects of Colombian culture are highlighted in the story? How do costumes, music, dance, and food play a role in the movie? How is magical realism, which is associated with Latin American literature, a big part of the movie?

Why does representation behind the camera matter as much as in front of the camera? While most of the movie's cast and the soundtrack's performing musicians are Colombian, the filmmakers themselves aren't. How could a Colombian filmmaker have enriched the film?

Movie Details

• In theaters : November 24, 2021
• On DVD or streaming : February 8, 2022
• Cast : Stephanie Beatriz , John Leguizamo , Wilmer Valderrama
• Directors : Jared Bush , Byron Howard
• Inclusion Information : Gay directors, Female actors, Bisexual actors, Latino actors
• Studio : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Brothers and Sisters , Music and Sing-Along
• Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Teamwork
• Run time : 99 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : some thematic elements and mild peril
• Awards : Academy Award , Common Sense Selection , Kids' Choice Award , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner
• Last updated : August 30, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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Encanto Reviews Are In, See What People Are Saying About Disney’s Latest

The first reviews are in for Walt Disney Animation Studios' 60th feature film.

Encanto marks the 60th feature film for Walt Disney Animation Studios. F rom Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs through to today, it’s not a stretch to say Disney has created some absolutely iconic films. But does Encanto rank with the best? The reviews for Encanto are here, and based on the first batch of critics, it looks like most fans of Disney Animation will enjoy Encanto . While not everybody loves the film, most find good things to say about it and found it to be enjoyable and worth checking out. 

Some, however, absolutely loved the new Disney film. I was one of them. I reviewed Encanto for CinemaBlend and while Encanto ’s plot is going to sound pretty familiar to anybody who has ever seen an animated Disney movie before, I thought that the way Encanto make changes to that story really helped it shine… 

Encanto isn’t a revolutionary film for Disney, but the places where it makes changes to the formula make it stand out from the crowd.

And I’m not the only one that gave Encanto raves in the review department, Polygon also felt the new film is one of Disney’s best, that does something very different with it's traditional female protagonist...

Disney has returned over and over to heroes’ journeys and plucky, bright-eyed protagonists looking out on the horizon, dreaming of adventure or romance. Encanto is not that. It’s something new and dynamic: a movie about relatives who love each other very much, but have a hard time understanding one another.

Encanto is the story of the Madrigal family, which has been blessed with magic, all except Mirabel, who for some reason was never given a magical gift. However, when the magic itself is threatened Mirabel tries to find a way to fix it.

While some critics felt that Encanto did enough to break up Disney’s regular formula , others, while they still enjoyed the film, felt the movie was ultimately still more of the same from Disney. Slashfilm finds Encanto to be well, fine, but it never gets out from under the traditional storytelling beats of a Disney movie...

Encanto partly has the misfortune of utilizing a mishmash of formulaic elements seen in plenty of other Disney and Pixar films, without being able to avoid those elements being noticeable.

A similar review comes from ScreenRant , where the review seems to be complimentary in spite of itself. Yes, Encanto is largely what you expect from Disney these days, but sometimes you just can’t help but enjoy it anyway... 

Though it can't quite break out of the Disney mold, Encanto is greatly aided by a unique story, a delightful cast of characters, and a vital message.

So the general consensus on Encanto is that, if you tend to enjoy most modern Disney movies, you’ll probably enjoy Encanto, as it has a lot in common with them. However, you might just find something truly special within that tried and true formula. Encanto arrives in theaters November 24.

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‘Encanto’ Summary & Review – A Magical Movie That Breaks All Stereotypes!

Encanto is a colorful, comforting, and relatable Disney film with beautifully sculpted characters. This animated musical-fantasy film revolves around the marvels of the enchanted Madrigal family. 

Encanto wins one’s heart with its refreshing storyline, spot-on comic timing, aesthetic backdrop, and uniqueness. It is a satisfying watch even for people who are not fans of animated or fantasy films. The era of the setting of the movie and the inspiration for the story is unclear. Hence, it may instigate a lot of curiosity among some viewers. Nevertheless, the film is easily fathomable to any modern viewer. Sounds exciting? Let us jump right into the lives of the miracle Madrigals! 

‘Encanto’ Synopsis: Meet the Madrigals

Following a tragic incident, Abuela Alma Madrigal has been blessed with a miracle in her candle that gave refuge to her family in a magical Casita. Fifty years later, the Madrigals are a respected kinship wherein the members possess a unique supernatural ability. 

The three children of Abuela Alma:

• Julieta Madrigal → Heals people with her food
• Bruno Madrigal → Has visions into the future 
• Pepa Madrigal → Controls the weather with her mood

The Grandkids:

• Isabela Madrigal → Makes flowers bloom
• Luisa Madrigal → Has super brawny strength
• Dolores Madrigal → Can hear a pin drop from miles away
• Camilo Madrigal → Can shapeshift
• Antonio Madrigal → Communicates with animals

The Madrigals who do not possess any magical powers:

• Abuela Alma (the keeper of the enchanted candle) 
• Agustin and Felix (the men married into the family) 
• Mirabel, Julieta’s youngest daughter who never received her gift! 

Being a part of a gifted family with no gifts has always made young Mirabel doubt her worth. However, when a threat awaits Casita, the fate of the family miracle relies upon the hands of Mirabel. 

The Cultural Representation: 

Disney’s animated-fantasy films have had a long history of centering around globally dominant Caucasian cultures. Encanto is one of the films that has contributed to changing that pattern. Following the Arabian representation through Aladdin and Oceanic representation through Moana, Disney has dived into the wonders of Colombian culture through Encanto. 

• Romanticizing the Hispanic Culture:

Regardless of the historical atrocities (faced by several communities), Disney helps one see the beauty of every culture through its fiction. Encanto does the same for the Colombian-Hispanic culture with its picturesque setting, traditional attire, and delightful music. These attributes have successfully enhanced the enticing plot of the film. Right from the opening scene, the film ensures that the audience does not leave their seats!

The Musicals

As a musical film, the songs play a significant role in the narration of Encanto. The film involves 44 songs, including the OST and trailer tracks. Most of these are the works of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Germaine Franco. The musicals are very amusing and melodious, with several funny elements that add life to the film. 

‘Encanto’ Plot Explanation

• Matrilineal and matriarchal kinship:  

The cinematic representation of a matrilineal family is a rare sight. The Madrigal family, nevertheless, is a refreshing exception. The film features Abuela Alma Madrigal, who became a single mother and raised her triplets. Furthermore, she nurtured her extended family to a respected kinship, who used their gifts to serve the community. The women in the Madrigal family are empowered decision-makers. The beauty in the film is that the power dynamics are not dominated by one gender. The Madrigals make the perfect example of an egalitarian family, as everyone’s opinion matters. 

( Minor Spoilers Ahead )

• Luisa’s Strength:

Luisa Madrigal has the gift of great physical strength and brawn. Typically, such strengths are possessed by male characters in any popular fiction. Encanto breaks this stereotype by making a female character the strong one. Luisa uses the best of her abilities to help the residents of their village. She is the strong pillar of support to the village and her family, who seldom complains or shares her vulnerability. 

Even so, the super-strength does not make her character less feminine in any way. Luisa is a soft-hearted girl who dotes on her sister and is always there to protect her. She does not feel embarrassed about crying, showing her expressive feminine side. 

• Happy Ending ≠ Marriage: 

Not long ago, a typical Disney fantasy movie could be described as a Damsel-in-distress and a knight-in-shining-armor falling in love and getting married. Only a marriage of that kind could be followed by the phrase “happily ever after.” Regardless, Mirabel’s journey does not involve marriage in any way. She saves the day and comes off as a hero without any help from a Prince-Charming whom she could marry in the end. 

• No Customary Villain: 

Another pattern that the film breaks is the existence of a certain maleficent sorceress, vengeful foil, or mean old wolf in the story. Despite being a fantasy film, Encanto has a mature take on the issues the characters strive for. 

While there are a few grey shades to Abuela’s character, her controlling nature can be justified as caused by all the years of trauma and uncertainty she faced. On the other hand, Bruno’s character is perceived as mysteriously evil earlier in the film. Eventually, Bruno turns out to be the sweetest guy in the Madrigal family. 

• The Grey Area:

It is quite easy for fairy-tales to establish a very black-and-white narrative. A few character frames include:

• The distressed orphan
• The spiteful stepmother
• The ugly duckling (the underdog)
• Or the arrogant attractive girl/boy. 

Films like these include flat and repetitive characters and give a very one-sided perspective on who’s who. Encanto does an excellent job at broadening the perspective of the characters. 

While the audience perceives everyone from Mirabel’s eyes, it opens their minds as she eventually understands her family members better. The characters in the film are beyond a frame, or tag one may give them. They are multi-dimensional, unique, and have a lot of depth in them. The beauty of the plot lies in how the characters evolve from accusing to empathizing with one another. 

The Takeaway

While Encanto may be typically described as a light-hearted comedy, it has several meaningful underlying messages. The film sheds light on personal struggles with vulnerability, self-acceptance, and embracing imperfections. Every viewer can relate to Mirabel’s journey of self-discovery that leads to a gratifying ending. 

Encanto is an excellent film that can inspire its younger audience to recognize their own gifts and potentials. Overall the film is a beautiful amalgamation of laughter, adventure, light mystery, music and dance, and loads of entertainment.

Encanto is a 2021 Disney Animated Film directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard .

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Movie Review: ‘Encanto’

by Alyssa Aldape | Jan 12, 2022 | Opinion

(Credit: Disney / 'Encanto' Publicity Still Photo / https://tinyurl.com/43rbfjnp)

By now you have heard of or seen Disney’s newest movie “Encanto.” Or, at the very least, you have seen a lot of content unpacking the movie.

One example I’ve seen on my very niche, progressive Christian timeline is an enneagram breakdown of each character, which I strongly urge you to stop doing.

Why? First, I thought the cardinal rule of the enneagram – aside from talking about it incessantly – was never numbering people before they can number themselves.

Second, it feels oddly racist. I’m not sure how, but I’ll find a way it is tied to white supremacy.

I was excited for this movie to come out, as it was the second of two movies representing Latine culture. The first being “Coco.” Four years later, “Encanto” followed.

“Encanto” tells the story of a magical family that lives in a secluded village deep in the forests of Colombia. Each member is given a magical gift at their coming of age.

[**SPOILER ALERT**]

But this is not the case for the main character Mirabel of the family Madrigal. We find out at the end of the first musical number that Mirabel is left out and has no gift.

The movie follows the Madrigals on the day the next family member Antonio is to receive his gift. Abuela, the matriarch of the family, makes it quite clear to Mirabel that, due to her lack of magic, she is a threat to what the family has.

In one particular scene, Mirabel is left out of a family picture and the scene is heartbreaking. For any person who has felt like the outsider in space that is meant to be safe and caring, the grief was palpable.

Chaos ensues as they learn what it means to be “ordinary” as their magic fades. With the help of Mirabel and her estranged uncle Bruno, the family finds a way to restore the light of their magic.

The movie has so many themes that touch on how we operate in our communities and families.

From a sister who must be the strong one and hold it all in her hands to another sister who must be perfect at all times to the ostracized uncle they never speak of, there’s a musical number for every one.

I cried while Louisa sang about the pressure of being the strong one. For all my firstborn comrades of first generation families, that one was for us.

Mirabel’s gift, it turns out, is the gift of truth and tending. She finds a way to guide her family into their truth while also helping them explore ideas they would not have otherwise.

But as much as I loved the movie and have toyed with the idea of creating a “So You’ve Seen ‘Encanto’ and You Think You Might Need a Hug and Some Therapy” reading list, there was something that felt “off” about the movie.

So, I started group chat with friends and, of course, these wise mujeres were able to name what was missing.

One friend Jennifer wrote, “The creators went with the pan ethnic narrative story line and failed to capture actual Colombians. If you’re gonna have an enchanted something , let it be an actual place in Colombia — not a non-distinct secluded place.”

It was as if the creators and directors thought we would all be happy that Lin Manuel Miranda did the music and called it a day.

And while I recognize that no work of media will ever get representation right, the glaring blanket assumptions of “Latinidad ” was evident.

As I have written before, I love when mi gente are represented in mainstream media. Our music, our inside jokes, our many manifestations of a tamal-damelo .

Disney movies are no different. When “Coco” was released in 2017, it was one of the first times characters who spoke like me and my family were main characters, not just comedic relief.

But was there a need for the afterlife to be policed like the borders? As if it was some joke we all love that Mexicans measure cultural representation by how we are perceived by American policy?

In “Encanto,” Colombian friends felt like the culture was swapped out for a general representation of Latine culture. It seems that when it comes to representation, the details are oddly specific or far too broad.

Naturally, the themes of “Encanto” and my pushback on the production made me wonder about representation in the church.

How often have we heard churches yearn to be welcoming and diverse places for all people? And how often has the church missed the mark by either tokenizing one leader or only highlighting the diversity on Pentecost Sunday during the Acts 2 reading while casting misfits out because they don’t quite fit in?

Disney and downtown churches can learn a lot about what it means to think critically and with the intention of creating a diverse representation of the world.

If the church of Jesus Christ is the casita, then the cracks have started to show in the foundation. Will we continue to miss the mark? Or will we see the magic in each person while truly learning what that means?

In the end, I will continue to watch both “Coco” and “Encanto” and cry my eyes out, appreciating what they are while remaining hopeful for what can be. The stories in each are beautiful, and I need to make sure I have every detail of Mirabel’s outfit memorized for Halloween.

I can hold both the joy of Black and brown children screaming with joy when they see a character that looks like them on the screen, while also hoping and pushing for the gift of honest representation of my people.

MPAA Rating: PG for some thematic elements and mild peril.

Directors: Jared Bush, Byron Howard and Charise Castro Smith.

Writers: Screenplay by Charise Castro Smith and Jared Bush; story by Byron Howard.

Cast: Stephanie Beatriz: Mirabel; María Cecilia Botero: Abuela Alma; John Leguizamo: Bruno; Mauro Castillo: Félix; Jessica Darrow: Luisa; Angie Cepeda: Julieta; Carolina Gaitan: Pepa; Diane Guerrero: Isabela.

The movie’s website is here .

Virginia State Field Organizer at National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice and Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Commonwealth Baptist Church.

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