This week, we turn out attention to Encanto, a new animated feature from Disney which features music by Lin Manuel-Miranda.
The Madrigals are a family who live hidden away deep in the mountains of Colombia in a enchanted sentient house called Casita. The children and subsequent progeny of the Madrigal family that dwell in Casita are gifted with extraordinary powers. These gifts are used in the service and protection of the family and the nearby village.
All the Madrigal children possess such gifts. Except Mirabel.
Despite not having a special gift, Mirabel is still an enthusiastic and optimistic supporter of her family and her community.
Abuela Alma Madrigal, Mirabel's grandmother, is not so impressed with Mirabel's enthusiasm, keeping her at some remove from rest of the family due to her lack of a gift.
If Abuela is trying to keep Mirabel at arm's length, she's not the only ostracized family member. There's Mirabel's uncle Bruno.
Who is never to be spoken of.
Bruno has precognitive abilities. Unfortunately he gets blamed for bad things happening when he predicts bad things happening. So Bruno left.
One such vision shows Casita breaking apart with Mirabel in the middle of it somehow.
Sometimes it takes a misfit to help a misfit so Mirabel searches for Bruno.
She doesn't have to go far because Bruno did not go far. He's living inside the walls of Casita with only rats to keep him company.
Bruno is not well. But despite being "not spoken of" by the family, Bruno is still loyal to the Madrigals.
Yes, bad stuff is happening to Casita and jeopardizing the gifts of the children who live there. But (big surprise!) it's not Mirabel's fault any of this is happening. It is up to Mirabel to save the house, save the magic and save the family.
OK, most of what happens in Encanto is hardly unexpected but that doesn't stop this film from being charming and delightful. The animation is beautifully rendered with colors that pop and gorgeous lighting effects.
The songs by Lin Manuel-Miranda are admittedly a bit derivative. This one sounds like something from In the Heights, that one sounds similar to Moana. But they get the job done with toe tapping rhythms and lyrics that enhance the story.
The "It's That Person Who Was In That Thing" Dept.
The voice of Mirabel is provided by Stephanie Beatriz aka Rosa Diaz from Brooklyn Nine Nine.
The very weird (in a good way) Bruno was voiced by John Leguizamo who provided the voice of Sid the Sloth in the Ice Age movies.
One more thing: the movie opens with a short film called "Far From the Tree", a wordless tale of a young raccoon who learns a painful lesson on why mom doesn't want him running off by himself. One time jump later and the young raccoon is having similar problem with his off spring but arrives at a different way to impart the lesson on safety. It's a hand drawn tale that looks good and accented with natural sounds of nature and woodland creatures.
Encanto may not be a ground breaking story (the importance of family, accepting those who are different, etc) but it is well told with gorgeous animation and interesting well rounded characters.
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