Encanto will definitely delight the kids with its colourful visuals, cute animals and catchy songs, but if you look under the glossy sheen, the film was overly simplistic, ridiculously contrived and, most importantly, narratively frustrating. This was catered to a very specific crowd and did not respect the intelligence of its viewers to be able to understand beyond the superficial. It was as if the elevator pitch was "One Hundred Years of Solitude for children but with songs and music and a grouchy capybara...minus the emotional depth and the character developments and the complexity of real human/familial relationship...but hey, we have a toucan!"
The saving grace were the songs, but even then, after Hamilton and In the Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda style and signature rhythms are getting stagnant and repetitive. Regardless, it was still no surprise that the soundtrack got into the charts. Although, as pretty as the Oscar nominated song Dos Orugitas is, it still remained a head-scratcher why that was the song chosen (highly unlikely that it will win over Billie Ellish's No Time to Die).
The animation itself was pretty but nothing groundbreaking or stunning, although the details remained meticulous. However, it was only that much animation can carry and obfuscate (for adults or anyone looking closely) if the bones of the story are lacking.
The story was just so annoying. It had potential and ambition but seemed to have been squandered by simplifying it to make it the most accessible. Sure, there is a lesson in it to be learned but why did it have to be kept hammering in. Incessantly. Were there not more to be said? Why could they not find more to say?
The ending was a perfect Disney emotional manipulation but the journey to get there was just not worth it. It was not well-earned. But sure, what the heck, as long as the tears flow.
On the other hand, the voice cast was great. Kudos to Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, Jessica Darrow, Adassa and Diane Guerro. Their voice acting were great and the singing a highlight. Pity they were not given more to do.
Nonetheless, kudos to Disney for expanding its representativeness and diversity. As a child-friendly animation, this was fantastic. Introducing the young ones to a different culture and community. Kids will be enthralled and the accompanying adults will be suitably entertained. But this lacked the emotional depth of Pixar's entries like Luca or even Disney's non-white animations like Raya and the Last Dragon and Big Hero 6.
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