Films with Izzy: Encanto

Post date: January 6, 2022

#4. Encanto

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary: The latest Disney musical, a fantasy comedy about a multigenerational Colombian family and a miracle. The Madrigal family are all gifted with extraordinary powers except for 15 year old Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), and have lived in the same house for 50 years. But when their enchanted casita begins to fall apart and their gifts begin to fade, Mirabel decides to explore the house and find out just exactly what's going on. And maybe it has to do with her mysterious (and missing) Tio Bruno and his prophetic abilities, hm?

Would You Enjoy It?: Encanto is fantastic for family movie night. It has enough silly moments for kids to laugh at, but it's also a sweet movie that will bring tears to anyone's eyes, child or adult. While there are some mildly frightening scenes, there's nothing too violent or upsetting for a kid. The character designs are fantastic, managing to look distinctly like themselves and yet still a family unit. The story is powerful, sending a message about the importance of family love. Get a cup of tea and some arepas con queso and sit down with everyone you love to watch this masterpiece.

Final Thoughts: Encanto is fun, bright, colorful, heart-wrenching, hilarious, but most of all, it is deeply genuine. Absolutely nothing about this movie feels forced, or like it's just a cash grab. The attention to detail put into this film astounds me, from the surprisingly accurate details of Colombian dress, music, and food, to the way the plot all ties together so perfectly at the end. The characters latch onto your heart so quickly that you'll be begging to see more of them after only an hour and a half. I would love to see more of this kind of thing from Disney, instead of one thousand lifeless remakes that are all vying for the "stupidest idea ever" award. To celebrate familial love for Valentine's Day, go put on Encanto, you won't regret it.