Encanto: A Review

For today’s installment of #MondayMovies, I gotta tell you exactly how enchanted I am by Encanto.

I’ve now seen the movie twice. I have cried twice. I will probably always cry because I have a very soft spot for grandmothers and their grandchildren. (Coco tried to kill me through lachrymal dehydration as well) For all the ways last week’s movie fell flat for me, this movie stood out as vibrant and full of heart and hope and family.

Structurally, the film works beautifully. The story is an adventure without ever having to leave home, and that’s pretty darn brilliant. Characters are well rounded. Songs are contagious. What more could you ask for?

For me, this is a Best Picture contender because it’s one of the best—if not the best—2021 movie I’ve seen so far. One mark of a truly good movie is how long it sticks with us. This quality is hard to determine the year a movie is released, but I think we’re all going to be singing “We Don’t Talk about Bruno” for years to come.

One sign of a well told story is that each character’s strength can become a weakness and vice-versa. Luisa’s literal strength means people call on her constantly. She’s afraid to let them down and takes on too much. Isabela’s perfection leaves her afraid to disappoint others with anything less. Mirabel, as the only Madrigal without a gift, is left flailing to find purpose or to be able to contribute to the family. Then there’s poor Bruno. He just calls them as he sees them then gets blamed for harshness of the reality he foresees.

This movie is for people who

• love stories about family

• love musicals

• love animation

• want to talk about Bruno

This movie isn’t for people who

• don’t like animation? or fun? or grandmothers?

• don’t want to talk about Bruno

#MondayMovies disclaimer: This blog is just for my thoughts. Sure, I’m a writer and an English major so I have some idea—we would hope—of how stories work. I’m also a flawed human being with my owns likes and dislikes, though, so please watch any movie you like and love it or hate it or just go for the popcorn.