Given the rather lukewarm reaction to 2020’s The Prom and the epically spectacular failure of a Cats revival in 2019, you would be forgiven for thinking that musical theatre movies would slink away into the shadows for a while licking its wounds until enough time had passed for us to forgive – but never forget – the horror show that was Cats. However, somewhat surprisingly, there was definitely music in the air with not one, not two, but a whole host of musicals gracing the big screen in 2021 from Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story to the gloriously camp Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. With his name attached to a number of projects throughout 2021, including his directorial debut Tick, Tick… Boom, Lin-Manuel Miranda closes out a productive year with Disney’s magical, mystical musical Encanto.

After the loss of her home and her husband, Alma Madrigal and her newborn triplets were gifted a miracle in the form of a magical everlasting candle and a sentient house in a safe haven protected on all sides by mountains. When the triplets come of age, the magic grants them abilities and as the family grows each new child is blessed with a gift when they reach a certain age and a Tardis-like room that is tailored perfectly to their power. From the ability to heal people with food and moods that control the weather to super strength and incredible hearing, each gift is meant to protect and serve the family and their community. Unfortunately for our protagonist, Mirabel, when the time came for her to receive her gift the magic was not forthcoming and no new ability was bestowed upon her.

Feeling like an outsider as everyone around her flourishes, Mirabel’s attempts to help and support are seen as more of a hindrance and the family matriarch becomes a little judgmental, desperate to protect the magic and the family gifts, so when Mirabel starts to visions of cracks in the house and the candle going out her fears are not taken seriously.

Mirabel sets off on a quest to save the magic and prove to herself that she is just as special and exceptional as the rest of her family, but the more she uncovers the more she puts the family – and the magic -at risk.

I remember leaving the cinema feeling entertained but not particularly enamoured by the movie. The animation was beautiful in true Disney fashion, the songs were catchy but felt a little hectic and the story itself suffered a little from the lack of a real villain HOWEVER there was something about the film, the story and the music that lingered and, in the spirit of full disclosure, I’ve watched Encanto another three times since its release on Disney+, have the soundtrack on repeat on my Spotify and would rank this up there as one of my all-time favourite Disney films!! Bold statement, I know, but hear me out…

The members of the family Madrigal are as vibrant, colourful and entertaining as the visuals. A long way from her turn as badass detective in Brooklyn 99, Stephanie Beatriz voices our heroine Mirabel who’s all hand-embroidered clothing, big glasses and curly hair. Maria Cecilia Botero brings a sense of tragedy and loss to Abuela Alma, Jessica Darrow’s super strong Luisa has arguably the best song of the bunch and John Leguizamo steals the show as the black sheep of the family, Bruno.

WE DON’T TALK ABOUT BRUNO!

As I’ve previously mentioned, there’s no real villain in the traditional sense but instead the story, beautifully infused with Colombian culture, offers something of an introspective and reflective look at familial pressures and strained relationships, sensitively touches upon the concept displacement through war and conflict and promotes a strong message to be secure in your own skin – regardless of what others around you may be capable of.

Overall, Zootropolis directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard have followed up their brilliant feature film debut with another thoroughly entertaining top tier Disney film, jam-packed with musical numbers that are not quite as annoying as Frozen‘s ‘Let It Go’ but no less infectious. So regardless of whether you’ve already seen it or not, add Encanto to your watchlist, gather the family around and give in to your inner child.

Encanto is now available to stream on Disney+