Encanto (2021)

The critic calls it a charming animated musical that flips the typical script by making the ordinary weird in a magical Colombian family. They single out the expressive visuals, house-as-character, and Miranda songs for praise.

The critic calls it an absolute charmer, praising the purity of its storytelling, stunning visuals, and the buoyant original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda that blend traditional musical theater with Colombian music.

The critic praises the film as brilliant Disney animation with stunning visuals, a beautifully composed story focused on family dynamics, and spellbinding songs, highlighting its respect for Latino culture.

The critic deems it the best Disney animated film since Frozen, praising its visual and musical strategies that underscore a nuanced tale of self-doubt, family expectations, and maintaining a façade, which becomes enormously moving.

The critic praises the vibrant visuals, stellar songs, and story with real heart as another Disney banger. They single out the intimate family story, Miranda's melodies, and the emotional finale for praise.

The critic calls it high-tier modern Disney that recasts the studio formula in fresh, dazzling shapes. They single out the endearing heroine, Colombia-set setting, and especially Lin-Manuel Miranda's songs for praise.

The critic calls it a lively, lovely, lush animated musical fairy tale with vibrant animation and infectious songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda that keep the film bopping, noting its girl-power themes and emotional depth.

The critic describes it as a rousing and compassionate animated musical with vibrant animation and a fast-paced script rooted in lessons about self-worth, praising its empathetic charm and potential for healing.

The critic describes it as a vibrant and rousing exploration of family and Colombian culture and praises the bright, lively animation with memorable characters and the anthropomorphised Madrigal home.

The critic describes it as a spectacular yet intimate coming-of-age fable celebrating ordinariness and everyday miracles in a Colombian magical family. They single out the best soundtrack since Frozen and the lack of a villain for praise.

The critic calls it an out-and-out delight and a lusciously rendered swashbuckling adventure with dazzling animation, a sentient house, and a shrewdly introspective story about a young woman who feels surplus to requirements, boosted by Lin-Manuel Miranda's Latin and hip-hop-flavoured songs.

The critic calls it a fun, boisterous and sassy magical realistic tale and praises the animation for rendering luscious flowers, hair textures and skin tones as a genuine love letter to the diversity of Latin America.

The critic praises it as a spectacular all-singing all-dancing Disney cartoon with a muscular sense of its own identity that addresses superhero tropes and the weight of family expectations and status in a Colombian setting, though it ends with a somewhat compromised happy ending.

The review praises its clever use of magical realism that brings a vibrant, distinctly South American flavor and conveys that even in the best families it takes work to stay together, though the resolution is wrapped up too quickly and cleanly.

The critic calls it an appealing animated film that finds fresh ways to tell a story about characters with powers and praises the heartfelt message about coming to terms with trauma, which yields intensely moving results when the directors focus on underlying emotions.

The review describes it as a beautiful but trite lavish animated musical that feels emotionally wrought about family hurts and how 'normal' can be a four-letter word, though the story tries too hard to wrap nuance in a tidy bow.

The critic finds the film a charming animated musical about family and self-worth despite some meandering and forgettable songs, praising its animation, design, voice cast, and cultural nods to Colombia.

The critic finds the film a blandly frictionless Disney fairytale that misses the magic, hampered by contradictory messages about its characters' gifts and a lack of sparkle despite nice moments and sweet show tunes by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The review calls Encanto a joy with dazzling animation and a colourful soundtrack by Lin-Manuel Miranda, highlighting Mirabel as an engaging heroine and the film's delicate handling of peril leading to happy tears.

The critic calls Encanto a heartwarming celebration of family that stands out from recent Disney Animation films by focusing entirely on familial relationships and expectations rather than using family as mere backdrop. They single out the catchy, original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and the gorgeous animation for praise, while noting the story's emphasis that Mirabel does not need a superpower to be special.

The critic praises Encanto as a musical masterpiece and one of the most emotionally compelling films of Disney’s Revival Era, highlighting its tight focus on complex family dynamics, relatable themes of legacy and expectations, and effective use of music and animation to explore them without relying on a traditional villain. They single out the story’s grounded, inward-looking approach to family relationships and the infectious, storytelling-driven songs.

The critic finds the film breezy, bright, and brilliant, praising its catchy songs, dazzling animation, and charming take on family dynamics and magical realism in a Colombian setting.

The critic describes it as a likable and charming Disney film with beautiful animation and strong cultural elements, but notes it stays formulaic and does not push storytelling limits far enough.