Movie Review: Encanto

The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift — every child except Mirabel. However, she soon may be the Madrigal’s last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger.
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.
Drew Marshall (11) thought the message of family was very prominent. “I think the movie proved that forgiving others and building bonds was really important.” He said that after the big fight (no spoilers) it was magical to see the family come together.
Disney did a great job, as per usual, with the music production. The film’s original songs were composed by Hamilton writer Lin-Manuel Miranda; the songs are breezy and fun, they communicate the character beats they need to.
Aerial Boyd (12) stated, “The songs to me were the most powerful part of the movie; they conveyed what they needed to and were catchy enough to make me listen to the soundtrack everyday.”
Andreas Henrickson (12) was thankful that this movie portrayed differences in families. He added, “Every family is different, and I’m glad that the siblings (in Encanto) were almost polar opposites to prove families can function without faulting their differences.”