Enchanting Enough?
SCORE: 78/100
****BEWARE POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD****
REVIEW:
There was a lot of hype built up for Encanto before I saw it. Some reviewers had called it the best Disney animated film in years. Is that the case? Not entirely, but it's still a gorgeous and fun film that, now that it's available on Disney+, is worth a watch.
It's not as perfect or as incredible as some may say, and certainly has some flaws. The first thing I didn't really like were the songs. Apart from one or two good songs that had incredible visuals, most of them aren't memorable, and even the songs I liked are hard to remember. I know I'm not the largest musical fan out there, but I can more than appreciate good songs and even put them in my playlists. The songs here just don't have the same energy as films like Moana or Coco.
The other similar critique is the cast. While the characters are great and visually different, I never really felt like the cast stepped up here. The characters are well written and designed, and I'll remember their designs and stories, but the cast just didn't have the same punch as films like Moana, Zootopia, or even Frozen. I watched this film four days before the time of writing, and even now I can't really remember a lot of the film.
Moving on to positives, the story here is remarkable. Disney, and their counterpart Pixar, have been on a hot streak with me for telling stories that relate to my own life as well as the countless families that will watch it. At its core, the film is about a young woman who feels inconsequential compared to her magic-imbued family. It's a story and a character that I truly feel I can relate to given things in my own life. It's also a really fun and unique way to introduce kids and their families to magic. In addition to its story are the fun characters that are included throughout the film. The sisters of Mirabel are highlights, and their stories are really essential to Mirabel's character journey. There is another character that is a highlight, but I won't talk about them due to spoilers.
Finally, it wouldn't be a Pixar or Disney movie if I didn't address the animation. It's absolutely gorgeous, with the lighting, water, and hair all being masterful. All of us critics sound like broken records with every release, but it's just true. The film's CGI, color use, and animation are all on another level, and well worth a watch for the animation fans out there.
Final Thought: Cute and fun, Encanto's story, characters, and animation all make the film shine, just don't expect to remember it a few days later.
Score: 78/100
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