Encanto

We’ve finally reached Encanto! I have been pining to watch this movie ever since it came out last year to great acclaim, and it did not disappoint: it’s a bright, colorful movie with some very catchy songs, and a tragic backstory that gives it some heft without undermining the fun aspects.

I particularly enjoyed the Madrigal family’s magical house Casita, which is a character in its own right, and Mirabel’s songs with her sisters when she realizes that they are both more complex people than she realized - more complex than perhaps anyone in the family realizes, as they have gotten sort of pigeon-holed in their roles in the family, as indeed people are wont to do.

My favorite character arc was actually Abuela’s, though, and Mirabel’s relationship with Abuela. Given that Abuela’s story starts with being forced out of her home by raiders, it’s so understandable that she’s absolutely fixated on this goal of keeping the house and the family strong - but she’s accidentally undermining that goal through her own inflexibility.

And - drumroll, please! - with this movie, the Disney rewatch is COMPLETE! *bangs down tankard*

Julie wants to do a Pixar rewatch, but I think it would be nice to just watch movies as the whim takes us for a while. Not sure I’m that interested in a Pixar rewatch anyway? Their movies are such a boy-fest. (Actually, Disney has more movies with boy heroes than girls, too, but the ratio is not as skewed as Pixar’s.) OTOH I’m way behind on Pixar movies: I saw Turning Red because how could I not see the first Pixar movie with a female director, but otherwise I haven’t seen anything since Incredibles 2...