Encanto (2021)

Disney’s latest introduces us to the Madrigal’s, a special family who live in a magical house in the mountains of Colombia, a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift; (super strength, the ability to talk with animals for example) every child that is, except our heroine Mirabel. However, as the house begins to lose its magic, and subsequently the families’ special powers, it becomes clear that Mirabel may be the families’ only hope. Encanto is filled with catchy songs written by Lin Manuel Miranda, a man who is in extraordinarily high demand these days, and these add tremendous charm to a warm tale of a family coming together to save their future. Encanto looks gorgeous, as usual Disney’s eye for detail is truly immersive, but Encanto does lack the excitement of 2021's true Disney classic, Raya And The Last Dragon. There’s a real lack of peril, and although that may sound a foolish thing to say of what is a film aimed mainly at children, it’s something that Raya And The Last Dragon achieved in spades. In the end, Encanto’s main crime may simply be that it’s release comes in the same year as Raya And The Last Dragon, I may well have be a bit more positive about it if the bar hadn’t been set so high by Disney early in 2021. But that’s not to say there’s not plenty to enjoy in Encanto, there absolutely is, and it’s a solid if not spectacular entry into the Disney franchise. 7.2/10