Encanto
2021, Disney Animation
As I've said before, I'm not big on musicals, but I'll confess here and now I really enjoyed Encanto. Never mind that this is probably the finest CG animation Disney has done; this is probably the finest film Disney has done, full stop. The writers and directors pulled out all of the stops and created a truly original story, carried along by some terrific music and outstanding performances, presenting some of the most emotive characters I've seen in an emotionally rich tale that had me teary-eyed more than a few times. While I confess I was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the cast at first, I wasn't bothered because we get to know them all over the course of 90 minutes. Plus, the songs were refreshingly atypical, often unexpected (no "oh, here comes a song" moments), and done in a variety of enjoyable styles.
Set in a make-believe, isolated Columbian town in the early 1900s, the musical treats you to such culturally authentic sights and sounds that you don't feel as though they're pandering or attempting to be "inclusive," and the characters are all unique and well-rounded. And while they may represent archetypal members of a typical large Latino family, no one comes across as a predictable token stereotype. I'll also add that, given such a musically-driven culture, the songs feel like a more natural part of the storytelling, which contributed greatly to my appreciation of it.
Encanto has enjoyed near-universal praise; the very few complaints mostly have to do with the fact that there's no villain. Why must every film have a villain? The conflict here involves the internal struggles of the family members, which ultimately is more believable and much more engaging than any mustache-twirling diabolical mastermind or evil queen/witch. And best of all? No annoying goofy sidekick! Thank you, Disney, for allowing the filmmakers to omit this Disney prerequisite. Oh, and no classic Disney princess, either; our heroine is just a girl.
DKS 9/24/22
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating:
