Quartile rating: 8.5/10 · 1 rating
The tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family—every child except one, Mirabel. But when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she, the only ordinary Madrigal, might just be her exceptional family's last hope.
Encanto dazzles visually with its vibrant Colombian setting, lush color palette, and inventive character designs that earn top marks for cinematography. Lin-Manuel Miranda's songs carry much of the emotional and narrative weight, and the family dynamics feel genuinely fresh with its Colombian cultural specificity. However, the plot is somewhat muddled — Mirabel's arc lacks clear dramatic stakes for much of the runtime, and the third act resolution feels rushed and emotionally undercooked, leaving the ending as the weakest link. The voice performances are solid but not particularly standout. Novelty sits comfortably above average thanks to its cultural setting and thematic focus on generational trauma, though the 'chosen one who isn't chosen' framework is familiar Disney territory.