On November 24, 2021, the movie Encanto was released in theaters and a month later was available on Disney+ to stream. The spoiler free summary of Encanto is that the movie follows the “Amazing Madrigals,” who are an extraordinary family that live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a magical village called Encanto.
The magic of a blessed candle has gifted every child in the family with a unique power – every child except Mirabel. However, it is revealed early on that she may be the family Madrigal's last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding their village and blessing the family is now in danger.
Encanto is Disney’s 60th animated feature, and has been a big hit since it was released. The movie was directed by Jared Bush and Bryon Howard, and has an amazing cast: Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel, Jessica Darrow as Luisa, (who has the fan favorite song “Surface Pressure”), Diane Guerrero as Isabela, Maluma as Mariano, Adassa as Dolores, Mauro Castillo as Felix, Carolina Gaitan as Pepa, Rhenzy Felix as Camilo, and many others.
According to Rogerebert.com, “[the directors] 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.”
The music in this movie was composed by Lin Manuel Miranda, who has done amazing Broadway shows such as Hamilton and In The Heights, as well as acted in various television shows and movies throughout the years. According to Entertainment Weekly, “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.”
There are people who think that Miranda could have done better with the music as he is a very talented person. But there are also others that believe that Miranda’s music and the work that he put into this movie is some of his best. According to the NY Post, “the tunes are some of the best Miranda has written for films so far, surpassing his numbers for “Moana” and “Vivo,” which were lovely in their own right. Most are high-energy pop, but you’ll be swept off your feet by the soothing “Dos Oruguitas,” about how Abuela Alma lost her husband. One of the most beautiful songs in any Disney movie, the tearjerker is performed by talented Colombian singer Sebastián Yatra, whose voice is butter.”
No matter the opinions about the music, this movie has been well received and audiences around the world love it, especially the fan favorite song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”