Write what you are looking for and press enter to begin your search!

Logo
live-news-icon

Live News

Roger Corman, Beloved King Of B-Movies, Has Died: In an intense match, the Lone Wolves came out victorious. Read all about the big night here // Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Conquers With Ape-Tastic US$129 Million Opening Weekend Box Office: In an intense match, the Lone Wolves came out victorious. Read all about the big night here // Steam Has Been Banned In Vietnam: In an intense match, the Lone Wolves came out victorious. Read all about the big night here
post-16 post-13

Encanto Isn’t Disney’s Strongest Animated Feature, But It Is A Fun Ride

When’s the last time a Disney film has touched upon the importance of family? Since forever, of course, as the House of Mouse has touched upon the topic various times from the oddballs like Lilo & Stitch to even cult hits like A Goofy Movie. So is it any wonder why the 3D animated feature Encanto feels oddly familiar and standard despite its fantastical magic-slash-telenovela aesthetic?

The Loud House

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: Youngest girl in the Madrigal family is an outcast when compared to the rest of her sisters, mother, father, cousins, and extended family, and wishes to seek approval from the family matriarch. In this case, the Madrigal family are powered by magic gifts from a candle (and a magic door that acts as a trigger and gives them their own giant room within infinite space) and use that gift to help their homestead and village in Columbio. They can cure people with food (Julieta the mum voiced by Angie Cepeda), lift heavy objects and buildings (Luisa voiced by Jessica Darrow), grow flowers and is the seemingly perfect child (Isabella voiced by Diane Guerrero), and more.

Our outcast is the powerless Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) who finds out that the enchanted house and community they’ve built is in danger of eroding, and wishes to get to the bottom of it, while her family seems to turn against her because of this revelation. In the middle of this is the pariah uncle Bruno (John Leguizamo) who has the power to see the future, which also comes with its own baggage.

The film starts out loud and strong, with musical acts and lyrics waxed by current musical poster child Lin-Manuel “I did motherf***ing Hamilton” Miranda that feel in-touch with today’s young audience. So of course, only half the songs resonated with me in beat and tone, with my personal highlights including the one about Bruno and Isabella. The reprise of the opening tune at the climax is also a nice touch, but this is a Disney trope that’s been perfected like a tale as old as time. Everything else, from the family investigation via Mirabel and the eventual implosion all goes by like clockwork, and while it’s still a hoot to watch, it isn’t as impactful as it should be.

Bruno is a delight to watch and feel for, given his future-sight gift and curse, while the rift between Mirabel and her powered-up family does show the conflict our main protagonist is dealing with. Too bad the rest of the family only has a few moments of character development apart from having their powers define them. I think this film could benefit a bit more from a few extra minutes of development time between Mirabel and her siblings and cousin; these moments feel like drive-bys even for hour-and-a-half Disney segments.

A Proud Family

I’ll say this though: parts of the middle act and how the rift ends up being resolved in the climax is definitely noteworthy, though the latter bit gives out a mixed message when the status quo reverts Disney-style. It’s clear as day that Encanto is going for spectacle and style rather than a meaty story about family, complete with pretty obvious symbolism: Isabella and flowers, the aunty’s moody temperament matching the weather she inadvertently summons, and the shapeshifting nephew who hasn’t found himself(?) yet. Oh, and the obligatory little child addition who has the power to talk to animals for the “aww” moments and slapstick humour factor.

Jared Bush, Charise Castro Smith, and Byron Howard may not have directed a hard-hitting animated film like Zootopia (within the PG-rated spectrum), or even anything better than past 2D works. However, Encanto’s music (some of it anyway), lavish colours, and La Familia style of presentation will delight audiences of all ages, even for a few days. Just don’t expect a higher level of Disney work than usual; I suspect over time, this film isn’t going to end up as legacy-inducing as your Frozens and the aforementioned furry cop movie.

Final Score: 70/100

Related News

post-07
Forza Horizon 4 Is An Absolutely Fabulous, If Familiar, Sunday Drive

Update: A lot has happened with this game from 2018 up to 2021. Forza Horizon 4 has received significant improvements that warrant a score increase. P...

post-07
Kena: Bridge Of Spirits Offers Solid 2000s-Era Platforming Goodness, For Better Or Worse

Platform(s): PC (version played), PS4, PS5 Genre: 3D Platformer with Well-Integrated Asian Influences Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a beauty to look ...

post-07
Cookie Clicker Deserves All The Mouse Button Presses It Gets

Cookie Clicker is on Steam, Yes, the 2013 browser game is now an official PC paid game where all you do is click on a cookie for results. I wholehe...

Write a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tournament Tool Kit

Kakuchopurei Community

Popular Posts

post-17
Summer Of Gaming 2024 Schedule: Video Game Live Streams & Showcases
post-17
Vampire Survivors: Operation Guns Contra DLC – All New Evolutions & Unlocks
post-17
Vampire Survivors: The Best Builds For Each Stage
post-17
Hades 2 Guide: All Incantations And Effects At Hecate’s Cauldron
post-17
Hades 2: All Boons List & The Best Ones
post-17
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes – 11 Tips To Get Ahead In This JRPG
post-17
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Review – Rally Forth
post-17
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Queen’s Blood Guide: The Best Cards & Decks
post-17
Introducing The Kakuchopurei YouTube Membership Program!
post-17
Palworld: All The Guides You Need For 2024’s Surprise Survival Game Hit
post-17
Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown Walkthrough & Guide
post-17
Delicious In Dungeon Starts The New Year Tastefully
post-17
The Games Of 2024: Our Picks & Highlights
post-17
Main Game: How To Watch Malaysia’s Best Video Game Show Created By Kakuchopurei & RTM
post-17
Marvel’s What If…? Crew Explains Why They Went 3D Over 2D & A Scrapped Episode That Was Too Close To GOTG 3
post-17
Hawkeye Episode 6 Finale Easter Eggs & Breakdown
post-17
We Talk To Hayden Christensen About Star Wars, Sequels, & Prequels
post-17
Sea Of Stars Might Get DLC Post-Launch
post-17
The Book Of Boba Fett Episode 7 Breakdown & Easter Eggs Explained