Watch With Me: Encanto

Movie: Encanto

Release date: November 24th, 2021

Rated: PG for some thematic elements and mild peril

Production company: Walt Disney Pictures

Directors: Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith

Writers: Screenplay: Charise Castro Smith, Screenplay: Jared Bush, Story: Byron Howard

Stars: Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo

What it's about:

A young Colombian girl has to face the frustration of being the only member of her family without magical powers.

What I thought:

I'm really not surprised by how much I liked this movie. I didn't know what it was about going in, I'm not going to lie. Finn wanted to watch it and I told him he can't watch without me and John. So we watched it together. 

The movie was funny, had bright beautiful colors, the music was great, it had a great story. 

Honestly everything you could ever want in a movie like this. I love the cultural references, I love how modern they made it with the style and the love in the movie (They even have a gay couple in it) 

The only problem I had was everything happened really really quickly. I was like "wait, that's it?" by the time it was done because it went by so fast. 

I think it has a beautiful story about family, about how you can be special even if you're not the same as everyone else.

In a way I also kind of know how Maribel feels. Not because of powers, but because everyone around me has something I desperately want, but can't have. More kids. Everyone around me has a miracle, or a gift, or whatever you want to call it. But I feel like I'll never have it. It definitely makes me feel like I'll never be good enough.

Overall:

Overall be prepared to cry! And laugh... and just enjoy the ride. 

Fun facts:

The word encanto comes from Spanish and means charm, spell, or enchantment. It is both used as a way to tell a magic incantation and as an adjective for "sweetheart."

Bruno was originally named Oscar, but his name was changed to better fit the song lyrics, "We don't talk about Bruno-no-no-no-no."

Most of the Latin voices are from Colombian-born or Colombian-descent actors.
Augustin says "Miércoles!" when he discovers Dolores overheard him speaking. This means "Wednesday" in Spanish but is close to the more colorful "Mierda" which means "crap".

Lin-Manuel Miranda has stated as the film was being conceived that he wanted it to be about a Latin American Disney Princess and that he wanted it to take place in the same universe as Moana (2016), though nothing in the finished product confirms the latter.

During a song towards the end of the film, the uncle character Bruno sings the line, "Let it out, let it in, let it go!" while stretching his arms outward in a fashion similar to Elsa in Frozen (2013). While this line is spoken, the notes from the piano introduction to Let It Go from Frozen (2013) are played.

If you liked this movie then watch...