christian movie review of encanto

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Movie Review: ‘Encanto’

by Alyssa Aldape | Jan 12, 2022 | Opinion

(Credit: Disney / 'Encanto' Publicity Still Photo / https://tinyurl.com/43rbfjnp)

By now you have heard of or seen Disney’s newest movie “Encanto.” Or, at the very least, you have seen a lot of content unpacking the movie.

One example I’ve seen on my very niche, progressive Christian timeline is an enneagram breakdown of each character, which I strongly urge you to stop doing.

Why? First, I thought the cardinal rule of the enneagram – aside from talking about it incessantly – was never numbering people before they can number themselves.

Second, it feels oddly racist. I’m not sure how, but I’ll find a way it is tied to white supremacy.

I was excited for this movie to come out, as it was the second of two movies representing Latine culture. The first being “Coco.” Four years later, “Encanto” followed.

“Encanto” tells the story of a magical family that lives in a secluded village deep in the forests of Colombia. Each member is given a magical gift at their coming of age.

[**SPOILER ALERT**]

But this is not the case for the main character Mirabel of the family Madrigal. We find out at the end of the first musical number that Mirabel is left out and has no gift.

The movie follows the Madrigals on the day the next family member Antonio is to receive his gift. Abuela, the matriarch of the family, makes it quite clear to Mirabel that, due to her lack of magic, she is a threat to what the family has.

In one particular scene, Mirabel is left out of a family picture and the scene is heartbreaking. For any person who has felt like the outsider in space that is meant to be safe and caring, the grief was palpable.

Chaos ensues as they learn what it means to be “ordinary” as their magic fades. With the help of Mirabel and her estranged uncle Bruno, the family finds a way to restore the light of their magic.

The movie has so many themes that touch on how we operate in our communities and families.

From a sister who must be the strong one and hold it all in her hands to another sister who must be perfect at all times to the ostracized uncle they never speak of, there’s a musical number for every one.

I cried while Louisa sang about the pressure of being the strong one. For all my firstborn comrades of first generation families, that one was for us.

Mirabel’s gift, it turns out, is the gift of truth and tending. She finds a way to guide her family into their truth while also helping them explore ideas they would not have otherwise.

But as much as I loved the movie and have toyed with the idea of creating a “So You’ve Seen ‘Encanto’ and You Think You Might Need a Hug and Some Therapy” reading list, there was something that felt “off” about the movie.

So, I started group chat with friends and, of course, these wise mujeres were able to name what was missing.

One friend Jennifer wrote, “The creators went with the pan ethnic narrative story line and failed to capture actual Colombians. If you’re gonna have an enchanted something , let it be an actual place in Colombia — not a non-distinct secluded place.”

It was as if the creators and directors thought we would all be happy that Lin Manuel Miranda did the music and called it a day.

And while I recognize that no work of media will ever get representation right, the glaring blanket assumptions of “Latinidad ” was evident.

As I have written before, I love when mi gente are represented in mainstream media. Our music, our inside jokes, our many manifestations of a tamal-damelo .

Disney movies are no different. When “Coco” was released in 2017, it was one of the first times characters who spoke like me and my family were main characters, not just comedic relief.

But was there a need for the afterlife to be policed like the borders? As if it was some joke we all love that Mexicans measure cultural representation by how we are perceived by American policy?

In “Encanto,” Colombian friends felt like the culture was swapped out for a general representation of Latine culture. It seems that when it comes to representation, the details are oddly specific or far too broad.

Naturally, the themes of “Encanto” and my pushback on the production made me wonder about representation in the church.

How often have we heard churches yearn to be welcoming and diverse places for all people? And how often has the church missed the mark by either tokenizing one leader or only highlighting the diversity on Pentecost Sunday during the Acts 2 reading while casting misfits out because they don’t quite fit in?

Disney and downtown churches can learn a lot about what it means to think critically and with the intention of creating a diverse representation of the world.

If the church of Jesus Christ is the casita, then the cracks have started to show in the foundation. Will we continue to miss the mark? Or will we see the magic in each person while truly learning what that means?

In the end, I will continue to watch both “Coco” and “Encanto” and cry my eyes out, appreciating what they are while remaining hopeful for what can be. The stories in each are beautiful, and I need to make sure I have every detail of Mirabel’s outfit memorized for Halloween.

I can hold both the joy of Black and brown children screaming with joy when they see a character that looks like them on the screen, while also hoping and pushing for the gift of honest representation of my people.

MPAA Rating: PG for some thematic elements and mild peril.

Directors: Jared Bush, Byron Howard and Charise Castro Smith.

Writers: Screenplay by Charise Castro Smith and Jared Bush; story by Byron Howard.

Cast: Stephanie Beatriz: Mirabel; María Cecilia Botero: Abuela Alma; John Leguizamo: Bruno; Mauro Castillo: Félix; Jessica Darrow: Luisa; Angie Cepeda: Julieta; Carolina Gaitan: Pepa; Diane Guerrero: Isabela.

The movie’s website is here .

Contributing correspondent for Good Faith Media.

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Reviewed by: Blake Wilson CONTRIBUTOR

Fantasy miraculous or magical powers

Superpowers

Importance of family relationships and friendships

Living in the mountains of Columbia

Jungle animals

S omewhere in the mountains of Colombia, a group of families are looking for a new home. After losing her husband to marauders, Alma Madrigal says a prayer for safety to a candle. Unknown to her, the candle all of a sudden comes to life with a miracle. From that candle, a house appears, along with a thriving village for the rest of the group.

As the years passed, each Madrigal family member is given a magical gift from the candle. That is, all except Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz ). Why not her? That’s a mystery. And, things continue to get more mysterious when Mirabel notices her family’s casita starting to crack and break. In addition, several family members are losing their gifts. It’s up to Mirabel to solve this mystery and help protect her family.

Entertainment Quality

“Encanto” is a high-quality film. The animation is lush and breathtaking. Full of picturesque choices and authentic backgrounds, Disney Animation continues to push the envelope when it comes to creative choices. There’s also more detail in the costumes, as well as some fantastic choreography to the musical numbers.

Speaking of being a musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda has delivered another superb soundtrack here. The stand-outs are Mirabel’s “I Want” song, “Waiting on a Miracle,” and the terrific ensemble piece, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Older sister Luisa’s number, “Surface Pressure,” is a catchy number as well. Two of the songs, “Dos Oruguitas” and “Colombia, Mi Encanto,” are in Spanish and add to the film’s authenticity. The only song that didn’t seem to click for me was “What Else Can I Do?”, which isn’t a great match for the film tonally. Even so, it serves as strong character development for the middle child.

It is also nice to see the film stick to Central American-based talent in the voice cast. Beatriz and John Leguizamo are the exceptions, but they are terrific in their lead roles. Jessica Darrow nails the toughness of Luisa, while Carolina Gaitan nails the changing moods of her character, and Ravi Cabot-Conyers is adorable as Antonio.

Meanwhile, the story does a wonderful job balancing its characters, giving them each a distinct personality, while keeping the focus on Mirabel. There are a few twists in the script that work really well, and the ending succeeds in being emotionally-compelling.

On the downside, some of the dialog does zip by at such a quick rate that it may inhibit overall understanding (I had a similar issue with “In the Heights”). This is true in a couple of the songs as well.

Positive Messages

“Encanto” stresses the importance of familial love , and the importance of honesty and transparency. Mirabel kindly shows love to each and every family member, even when they may not include her in several events. She gives Luisa a big hug after hearing her open up. She helps Antonio during a scary moment for both of them.

Now. Of course, Mirabel has moments where she might cross the line, but everything she does is purely out of love for her family.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Madrigals certainly mean well, but they learn a thing or two about appreciating each and every one’s gifts and talents. And they also learn that it’s not just someone’s gift that defines them, and that it’s important to use your gift wisely . And, like almost any family, there’s some tension here and there.

There’s a verse in Proverbs about how the family unit is to be respected and valued.

“The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing, and the fool will be a servant to the wise person .” — Proverbs 11:29

Another strong message in the movie comes in the form of community and helping others. When the Madrigals are shown to be at their most vulnerable, their community steps up to help in a tremendous way. This reflects Galatians 6:2, which encourages us to bear each other’s burdens.

Negative Content

SPIRITUAL: The film’s main note of caution involves the family’s magical abilities. One person is able to look into the future (using leaves and sand) and tell people their future, another controls the weather, and another can heal others’ injuries. The Madrigal’s house appears to be alive and communicates with Mirabel. However, all of the family’s powers stem from a candle that appears to be miraculous or magical. The family seems to believe they have been divinely blessed and that they should use their miraculous gifts to bless others.

The characters seem to be rooted in Roman Catholicism. They pray in front of the candle, a priest character appears a few times, two characters are married in a church, and crosses appear in a few scenes.

LANGUAGE: The worst we hear is an “oh my gosh” and “jeez.”

ADULT CONTENT: The only thing of note here is a brief comment about someone expected to be a Mom to five children (her face looks shocked), and there are a few kisses between married couples.

DRUGS/ALCOHOL: Glasses of wine are seen at dinner.

VIOLENCE: There are some scenes of peril. People are blown away in a windy rainstorm. Mirabel leaps across a gorge and nearly falls during a sudden earthquake . She’s nearly trapped by raging sand as well. There are some close calls, and a semi-scary image of a three-headed Cerberus during a musical number. A house collapses. In a flashback, someone is suggested to have been murdered by sword-wielding marauders. Someone is bonked in the nose repeatedly. Someone has a swollen hand and nose in response to bee stings. A black eye and broken arm are briefly seen (but healed).

Elsewhere, Mirabel is disrespectful to her grandmother at one point. Some family members argue in a few places. One member of the family is able to shape-shift into different people of opposite genders.

“Encanto” (which translates into English as “charmed,” “spell,” “joy” or “delight” ) is a different film for the Mouse House. Instead of a fairy tale or a story that is all about female empowerment, this one is all about the bonds of family (and an imperfect, magical one at that). It’s an infectious, entertaining, well-crafted, and moving film that hit all the right notes emotionally for me. The music is fantastic, the animation is beautiful, the characters are fun, and there’s a strong, heartfelt story at the center. For me, this is definitely one of Disney’s best from the past decade.

There are a few intense moments here and there for little ones, and the Madrigals’ miraculous or magical abilities might be a red flag for some families (particularly Bruno’s attempt to contact the other side and his ability to see and predict the future). The Bible is clear that attempts at divination are wrong and forbidden by God.

What is divination ?

What is a necromancer and what does the Bible say about them?

What is a “ familiar spirit ”?

The Occult —What does the Bible say about it?

That being said, the film’s magical elements seem fantasy-based and do not appear to originate from witchcraft, demonic or occultic influence. Rather the message is that despite ups and downs, belonging to a caring, loving family is the real magic.

Ultimately, with strong positive messages on familial love, honesty, and community, and relatively few content concerns, “Encanto” is a film I enjoyed overall.

• Scariness: Moderate
• Violence: Mild
• Occult: Minor
• Drugs/Alcohol: Minor
• Profane language: Minor
• Vulgar/Crude language: None
• Nudity: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

• Young people
• Non-viewer comments

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

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Disney's 'Encanto' teaches us to see God in ourselves and others

A scene from the movie "Encanto" (CNS/Disney)

by Facundo Gonzalez Icardi

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Disney's new animated movie, "Encanto," provides deep insight into the spiritual nature of human beings and our yearning to encounter God.

NCR goes to the movies

On March 25, NCR Opinion & Culture Editor Olga Segura moderated a conversation about the 2022 Oscars with Jose Solís and Sr. Rose Pacatte. This year's awards ceremony, honoring movies released in 2021, is Sunday, March 27. Here are the nominated movies NCR has reviewed. " Being the Ricardos " " The Hand of God " " CODA " " The Eyes of Tammy Faye " " Attica " " Don't Look Up " " Dune " " Encanto " " No Time To Die " " Nightmare Alley "

Set in Colombia, the movie revolves around la familia Madrigal , a family blessed with an encanto , a magical enchantment that gives all the members of the family a gift. These include superhuman strength, the ability to communicate with animals, controlling the weather or shapeshifting. All members of the family receive their gift at age 6 and use it to help their village; all of them, that is, except Mirabel.

The movie, with music composed by the genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda, tackles intergenerational trauma and the pressure to uphold family expectations among complicated family dynamics and relationships. Being the only member of her family without a gift, Mirabel feels constantly neglected and rejected by her family, especially the family matriarch Abuela Alma, whose general attitude of disapproval toward Mirabel sets the foundation for Mirabel's feeling of not belonging.

All these feelings are captured in the song, "Waiting on a Miracle," in which Mirabel describes her yearning to belong, to be like the rest of her family. In a quasi-spiritual manner, she prays that she can be blessed with a miracle.

As I was rewatching the movie, a good friend pointed out a particular line in the song, where Mirabel sings: "I am ready, come on, I'm ready / I've been patient, and steadfast, and steady / bless me now as you blessed us all those years ago." Mirabel is longing, yearning for a gift, something out of the ordinary and grandiose to prove that she belongs, that she is worthy of her family's love.

She begs and pleads for something to happen. How often do we pray, and plead, and beg for God to perform something extraordinary in our life? How often are we waiting on a miracle?

Someone once told me that miracles are nothing but God's ordinary truth seen with surprised eyes. That which is surprising to us is recognizing God by who God is: an omnipotent being, capable of moving mountains and turning water into wine.

Yet too often these are the only actions that we think of as miraculous. How frequently, though, do we think of the mundane as miraculous as well? St. Ignatius reminds us that we can find God in all things since all creation reveals God's majesty and grandeur. God's presence is all around us, and recognizing that presence is recognizing a miracle.

Toward the end of the movie, Mirabel realizes that the true miracle is not the extraordinary gifts that her family has, but rather the ordinary ways in which they can show each other how they love, care for and support one another. She realizes, as do we, that the miracle that she is yearning for has been around her this whole time.

The real miracle is not strength, the ability to communicate with animals or shapeshifting. The miracle, as the last song reveals, is all of them, coming together, loving each other and embracing their true selves, without reservations, and unconditionally.

In one of the most moving scenes in the film, Mirabel and Abuela Alma talk by the river where the family's magic was born. The younger Madrigal acknowledges and centers Alma's pain and suffering at raising her three kids after losing her husband and home. Together, both women listen to one another and help each other heal.

Each family member, in one way or another, learns that the miracle — the magic — was in who God created them to be. They embrace and love every aspect of themselves, recognizing the fearful and wonderful miracle that we each possess as human beings.

"Encanto" is a story of self-discovery and self-worth, where the characters learn to embrace and love their true, authentic selves through intergenerational familial healing.

*An earlier version of this essay misspelled Mirabel's name. 

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Disney’s Latest Movie: Fun for the Whole Family or Just Another Movie About the Power of Family?

From tragedy comes triumph. The Madrigal family lives tucked away in the hills of Columbia. Each member of the family has magical powers. However, sometimes it takes the ordinary person to save the day. In this Disney Encanto Christian Movie review, I will give you the information you need to make informed viewing decisions with your family. 

Additionally, you will get free printables to use with this movie. See the end of this review.

Encanto Christian Movie Review

When Abuela Alma Madrigal, her husband, and their newborn triplets were forced to flee their home, her husband was taken by a band of soldiers, and she was left alone at the river with her children. Abuela was magically given a candle that never burned out. The candle helped create the home the Madrigal family lives in, and each member of the family is given magical powers when they become a certain age. 

Mirabel is the only person in the family who has not been blessed by magical powers. As the movie unfolds, the house that is a source of blessing and power and “holds everything together” starts to crack. Mirabel is the one that notices the cracks and attempts to find out what the cause is.

Disney Encanto Christian Movie Review Synopsis

This movie is visually stunning. It is colorful and warm and inviting. It gives you the feel of Coco and Moana wrapped up into one movie. 

The style of dialogue makes you feel as if you are invited into the Madrigal family. Most of the songs are upbeat and there is a great overall message of the importance of family.

Additionally, the lesson learned is that even with the “black sheep” of the family, they are wanted, needed, and have something to offer. Even if you feel that you are not “special,” you have a gift to give. 

The movie is vibrant and full of life. Its overarching theme is family. This is a multi-generational family living together. In the United States, we have rejected the notion of many generations living under one roof, and we have suffered for it. It is wonderful to see a family living and working together for the good of the family.

While many people love the music of Lin-Manuel Miranda, I personally find the songs hard to understand. The songs are upbeat, however, the words all run together. Therefore, the songs and the meanings are lost in a flurry of activity and whirlwind dancing. I know this is an unpopular opinion. 

What Parents May Want to Know

First off, this movie has a lot of characters. The family is huge, and that means very little character development. The movie is also so fast-paced that it seems like Coco on triple the speed.

There is no foul language in this film. One use of “oh g-d.” One use of the word stupid.

An entire community is forced to flee their home. You do not see violence per se, but there are fires burning in the background, people are presumed to be killed, and one man is taken from his family. 

A man is stung by bees several times throughout the movie which almost uses it as a funny subplot. His nose and ear are shown swollen.

I know I will get emails about this, but 1) You will not change my mind, and 2) The science shows that I am right! Fireworks including sparklers are dangerous for young kids. In this movie, kids are shown running with sparklers.  I actually gasped when I saw this scene. Maybe it is a cultural thing in Colombia, but in the United States, more than half of injuries from fireworks in children 5 and under are caused by sparklers. The recommendation is that children under the age of 10 have adult supervision when handling sparklers. 

Scary Moments:

There are several potentially scary moments in this film. There is a brief scene with a tornado-looking whirlpool, the house is cracking throughout the movie. A girl goes searching through the house and encounters cliffs, ledges, falling boulders, and rocks, etc. These are all brief scary situations.

There is a scene where Mirabel is being chased by a three-headed beast that has the potential to scare children.

Bruno is one of the long-lost triplets. When he reappears he looks creepy and has glowing eyes. In some scenes, he almost seems possessed. There is a scene where it looks like he is “conjuring” up an image. He has the gift of prophecy and he has visions.

None of the gifts are discussed in terms of where they come from or that God is the giver of all gifts. The word miracle is used over and over to describe the candle, the gifts, and the family home. 

There is a church in the town and a priest, but there is never a mention of God.

Additional Information

If your child has ever been through a scary time involving their house this may be something that triggers those memories. Since some scenes may invoke the feelings one has after going through a hurricane, tornado, mudslide, or earthquake, I caution parents. These all have the potential to impact small children (and adults). 

Although the family lives together, there is an underlying feeling from almost all the members of the family of “not being good enough.” Family definitely has that ability to make you feel that way. In many families they allow their own feelings of inadequacy to affect every other member of the family. However, in the end, this family came together stronger. 

There is a boy that is a shape shifter. He can take anyone else’s appearance. He shifts into boys, girls, men and women.

As a former Catholic, you can definitely see hints of unspoken Catholicism in the movie.

Recommendation for viewing Disney Encanto

This movie is rated PG. It is generally suitable for most audiences. However, I caution those with the smallest of children. The movie shows a house cracking, a man with glowing eyes, and a few scary scenes. For the most part, I believe that children ages 6 and up should be fine, but if your child has been through something traumatic (earthquake, tornado) they may have problems watching some parts of this movie.

Overall the message of Encanto is about how our weaknesses can actually be our strengths, and the importance of family working together. However, it really does seem like this movie is just a remake. After talking with my family, I do think there is a lot of substance packed in this movie in a short period of time.

I want to rewatch it to see if my overall feelings of “It’s an okay movie” go away. After all, I didn’t love Frozen the first time I saw it and liked it the 2nd time. The 560th time – I could take it or leave it! LOL

Using Disney Encanto to Teach

Geography and science:.

This movie can be used to teach about the country of Colombia and its geography. Colombia is a country in South America.

Additionally, science can be taught through the landscape and plant and animal life. There is no official religion in Colombia, but it is approximately 90% Christian. Catholicism accounts for approximately 69% of Christians.

Spiritual Lessons from Encanto:

As a Christian who believes God gives us all gifts and those gifts are to help the body, the gift of prophecy is given by God to speak special messages to the people. 

While the movie never mentions God, it is important as Christians for us to always point our children to God. What Abuela fears the most is losing the house. She has actually created the problems that she fears. Teach your children to think on things that are lovely and pure as commanded in Philippians 4:8:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

The powers that are given can also be found in the Bible, but make sure your children understand where our gifts come from and that God is the only one with power. 

Gifts (powers) Mentioned In Encanto:

One sister has superhuman strength and can be compared to Samson. Samson’s strength was given by God and taken away by God. 

Mirabel’s mother can heal with her food. There are numerous miracles in the Bible involving healing, however, it is God that heals. 

Another sister has the ability to control the weather.  God controls the weather. Job 37:10-13 “The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters his lightning through them. At His direction, they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever He commands them. He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water His earth and show His love.”

Bruno has the gift of prophecy. Romans 12:6 says, “We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith.”

Other Magical Powers include: Talking to animals, growing plants, super hearing, and shapeshifting.

Character Lesson from Encanto:

Another teachable lesson in this movie is the importance of being who you were meant to be. This lesson is often repeated in Disney movies. In The Little Mermaid, Sebastian says, “Children got to be free to lead their own lives.” In Frozen, we see Elsa learning to live with who she is created to be.

When Will Encanto be Available on Disney Plus?

Encanto will be available to stream on Disney Plus at no added cost on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021, at 3 AM.

My Favorite Qutoes from Disney Encanto Movie

Some of my favorite quotes are:

“My gift wasn’t helping the family.” This really resonated with me because I think we have the tendency to believe that we are not enough and need to be more than we are.

“Sometimes family weirdos get a bad rap.” Truth!

“Even in our darkest moments, there’s light where you least expect it.”

Disney Free Printables

There is nothing to do besides request these free downloads! This packet is filled with information and printables. HERE

Rated PG for some thematic elements and mild peril. Released: November 24, 2021 RUNTIME: 98 minutes

From Disney: “Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” tells 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 with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal—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.”

Furthermore, “the film features all-new songs by Emmy®, GRAMMY® and Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “Moana”) and is directed by Byron Howard (“Zootopia,” “Tangled”) and Jared Bush (co-director “Zootopia”), co-directed by Charise Castro Smith (writer “The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez”), and produced by Clark Spencer and Yvett Merino; Bush and Castro Smith are screenwriters on the film.”

Cast of Encanto

Stephanie Beatriz Mirabel

Maria Cecelia Botero  AbuelaAlma

John Leguizamo Bruno

Mauro Castillo Felix

Jessica Darrow Luisa

Angie Cepeda Julieta

Carolina Gaitan Pepa

Diane Guerrero Isabela

Wilmer Valderrama Agustin

Rhenzy Feliz Camilo

Ravi Cabot-Conyers Antonio

Adassa Dolores

Maluma Mariano

Rose Portillo Senora Guzman

Noemi Josefina Flores Young Mirabel

Juan Castano Osvaldo

Sarah-Nicoles Robles Senora Ozma

Hector Elias Old Arturo

Directed By  Byron Howard

Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith 

Produced By  Clark Spencer and Yvett Merino 

Reviewing movies for parents from a Christian perspective since 2005. Know Before You Go!

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

Dove Review

The Dove Take

In this visually stunning tribute to Colombian culture, Disney outdoes itself with a unique story that celebrates family, acceptance, diversity, and purpose. 

Dove Rating Details

There is no faith message, however references to "miracles" are made.

Main characters demonstrate high arcs of integrity; themes of love, service, acceptance, honesty, and family abound.

Husbands and wives are affectionate with each other (kiss, embrace, etc.)

Implied (off-screen) death; some perilous scenes; mild injuries.

During a dinner scene, some characters are drinking wine. Abuela acknowledges the potency of some drinks, saying, "The magic is strong ... and so are the drinks."

Magic, fortune-telling; one of the characters can be a bit frightening looking at times; a joke about two heterosexual characters hints at homosexuality "two guys fell in love ... with the family Madrigal."

More Information

Film information, dove content.

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The Miracle of Grace: A Review of Encanto

I finally watched the film “Encanto” with my kids. I had heard many people say the subtext of this movie was deeper than most. So, we snuggled up on the couch and watched it to see what everyone was talking about.

It’s interesting, when art is done well—as artists try to portray truth to the best of their ability, you can’t help but stumble upon the things of God. God is the God of truth. Art is most often done in storytelling form, whether it is a moment of a story frozen in a painting or sculpture, or set to motion in music, literature, or even film. Good art not only portrays truth most accurately, but it does so in such a way that it transcends generations and people groups.

Encanto is the story of a family, who have been gifted with a miracle. This miracle, represented by a candle, imparts a gift upon each member of the family. When each family member gets old enough, they get their own room, and the miracle reveals that family member’s gift. Some of the gifts given are: super strength, super hearing, the ability to heal others through food, to make flowers grow anywhere, to control the weather, talk to animals, or prophesy the future, and so on.

The matriarch of the family—the grandmother, reminds them all that they were given their gifts for the purpose of serving the village in which they live. It is their purpose. If they don’t use their gifts to serve others, they’ll lose their miracle.

It all looks really great and beautiful from the outside, until one family member comes of age, Mirabel, and the miracle does not give her a supernatural gift. It appears she is miracle-less. She doesn’t get her own room, and grows up in the nursery, being the one family member that isn’t “special” in some way.

No one wants to talk about the elephant in the room of Mirabel not having supernatural abilities—least of all her grandmother, who fears that Mirabel not being given a gift is a sign that the family miracle is weakening, and their family’s place in the village might be in crisis.

So the grandmother pushes harder and harder on the rest of the family members with supernatural gifts. Push harder. Do your best! If we have to make sure that we keep the miracle strong! It’s up to us to preserve the miracle! As the movie goes on, you notice the stress all of them are living in, trying to “keep the miracle strong” that was their free gift. One of the older sisters with supernatural strength sings:

“ If I could shake the crushing weight of expectations

Would that free some room up for joy

Or relaxation, or simple pleasure?

Instead we measure this growing pressure

Keeps growing, keep going

'Cause all we know is

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa

Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip 'til you just go pop, whoa-oh-oh

Give it to your sister, it doesn't hurt

And see if she can handle every family burden

Watch as she buckles and bends but never breaks

No mistakes just

Pressure like a grip, grip, grip…”

The stress of perfecting, and improving on the miracle given starts to make the foundation of the family home crack. The more it cracks, the more they push to perfect and improve. Hold it together! Be better! Do more! It’s never enough.

The pressure to use their gifts perfectly starts to erode the love in the family, as bickering breaks out, and there is no fruit of love, just pressure to perform and blame. It’s Mirabel, the one not given the gift that pursues the truth of what is going on—convinced that she must be the problem. What she finds is the prophet, (another family member) hiding inside the house. He was living in hiding because he had seen a vision of the cracks in the family house, and shared the vision—but because they feared what he saw, he was banished from the family. Unwilling to abandon his family in danger, the prophet hides inside the walls of the house, frantically patching the cracks from the inside, trying to buy them more time, as the cracks grow more and more.

But it isn’t Mirabel who is causing the house to crack, neither is it the prophet. It’s that the family had shifted from faith in the miracle, to faith in themselves to make the miracle happen. They had started seeing themselves as the source of the miracle, not the recipients of the miracle. That tiny little shift eroded the foundation of the house, dooming them all. The more pressure they put on themselves to produce the miracle perfectly, the deeper the cracks went.

Adults watching this movie alongside their kids are processing the story this movie is showing. Psychologists point out this might be Disney’s way of exploring “Internal Family Systems Theory” which is a way of exploring various people’s responses to trauma, much like Pixar’s “Inside Out” explores how our brains develop, grow, and process information.

But beyond the psychological implications, what is the theological connection? This movie shows what happens when we confuse vocation and sanctification. Justification and sanctification (grace) are gifts we are given, not something we make happen. Vocation is how we use this gift to benefit our neighbor, but it isn’t contributing to the beauty and mystery of the gift. We aren’t the source or strength of the miracle.

Replace the word “miracle” with “grace” and all of a sudden, this movie hits home hard for most Christians. It’s ok if you cry.

The more conversations I have with friends who talk about spiritual trauma say this story of Encanto gives them a picture of what hurt them. The gift didn’t stay gift for long. The gift became pressure, a burden, or our way of proving to everyone around us that we belong in the family. And when we can’t produce the gift everyone is expecting, do we even belong at all?

This beautiful story has the family hit rock bottom, and lose everything before they can recognize the miracle as a miracle again. I’ll try not to give away the ending, but there’s a beautiful thread at the end of the story that weaves together the concepts of miracles, as well as miracles working through ordinary means, and ordinary people.

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Gospel Review: Disney’s Encanto and the Gift of Miracles

• January 31, 2022

Gospel Review: Disney’s Encanto and the Gift of Miracles 

Written by: Tyler Hawkins

Disney’s latest animated release, Encanto, is a refreshingly splendid family film free from any progressive agenda. More than that though, Encanto is based on a gospel principle addressed by Jesus (Luke 11:29) and Paul (1 Cor 13). Before I get into the gospel connection, heed this SPOILER WARNING, major plot details and twists will be discussed in this review.

Setting and Plot

Encanto takes place in a fictional South American village that was born through the miraculous gifts of the Madrigal family. When the matriarch of the family, the grandmother, was young and had recently given birth to triplets, a group of murderous marauders began ravaging her hometown. She attempted to flee into the wilderness, but the marauders quickly caught up with her. That’s when the Encanto (enchantment / charm / magic) happened in a “parting of the Red Sea” moment. The Earth miraculously sprouted a mountain range separating the new mother from the violent troop. The result was a newly created fertile valley protected from harm by the mountains and the magic. As part of the Encanto , all members of the Madrigal family were given a specific miraculous gift to be used for the protecting, preserving, and building of the community. Over time the village and the family grew.

The Main Character

            The protagonist of the story is the granddaughter Mirabel, who is the only family member to never receive a miraculous gift. As the movie plays, the magic of the family starts waning for an unexplained reason. Mirabel does her best to solve this mystery, but seemingly only quickens the dissipation the harder she tries. Through her exploits she discovers many family secrets, each based on an unspoken yet shared insecurity her relatives share – doubting their self-value because of their miraculous gifts. Mirabel learns the magic is fading because the gift of miracles had secretly been causing increased division and doubt within the family for many years. By the end of the story, Mirabel brings healing to her family, both individually and collectively, by helping realize that love is the greatest gift. Which is where the gospel truth shone brightly through the plot to these Christian eyes of mine (I’m currently preaching through a sermon series on 1 Cor 13).

The Biblical Concepts

            The repressed insecurities of the Madrigal family members arose from a two-fold pressure on their lives. First, the people in the community began seeking their fellowship for the abilities and nothing more. From children in the square fascinated by the magic to hardworking adults seeking ways to make their lives easier at every turn, the love for the Madrigal’s was based on their miracles and little else. This is acutely similar to the followers of Jesus during His ministry. How many followed him only for a sign (Luke 11:29)? How many followed only for a healing? How many followed only for physical bread and not the bread of life (John 6:26)? How shallow are we humans to always assign worth to what a person can “do for me” rather than who they truly are? Is it not common for us to do the same today? Think of those who call on Jesus’ name in earnest prayer…only when they need something. Think of how many times you have thanked God for physical blessings in comparison to how many times you have thanked Him for trials and hardship (James 1:2). I’m afraid that many of us today are as guilty as the hungry crowds in John 6 who disbanded the moment Jesus stopped feeding their bellies and attempted to feed their souls. Back to the movie, the Madrigal family struggles with the enormous pressure of shallow love.

            The second burden on the Madrigal family came from their grandmother. Her once soft heart became hardened by an unshakable need to “earn” the gifts given to the family. Her stern instruction further encouraged the family members to place their self-worth in how hard they worked to use their gifts for others. The problem with this emphasis became abundantly clear by the end, when all focus was on accomplishing a work, none was left for considering the motivation behind the work. They strove for a works-based salvation that left constant doubt and insecurity. Sound familiar (Eph 2:8-10)? As Paul would say, the Madrigal family had forgotten that the greatest gift of all is love (1 Cor 13:1-2). While the Corinthians argued over whose gift was superior, the fictional Madrigals worried over which gift could produce the most “good.” Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians served as a tender, yet stern, reminder that no miracle, no deed, no act of “love” is worth a grain of salt if it is not performed with a truly selfless heart and desire to reflect God’s nature. Can we be guilty of this same flaw? Anytime we work for the Lord with a heart that says, “I do this because I have to” instead of “I do this because I get to” we are in danger of going down a stream of shallow faith. A repentant and faithful heart may rightly start from a spirit of recognizing a need to obey, but such faith must also grow beyond a rote, disgruntled obedience, and bloom into a faith that “rejoice[s] always” (1 Thess 5:16) and relinquishes feelings of self-righteousness (Luke 18:9-14).

            Bottom line – Encanto is one of the best parabolic teachings on the value of love, family, and serving others that I have seen from cinema. With a diverse set of characters, it has a little something for everyone. There is the strong one, the pretty one, the quirky one, the nosy one, the aloof one, the high strung one, the stern one. Odds are you will be able to identify with qualities from at least one character, but more importantly, I hope that you will be able to relate to the gospel principle of love. In Encanto, it took the one without miraculous gifts to teach others that such gifts were not necessary to show love. Genuinely, my first thought after the climax of the plot was, “that’s exactly what Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians 13!” Maybe you will think so too. Whether blessed with much or little, may we always seek to use what God has given us to celebrate His love for all His creation. Love God, love others, rejoice always.

“The Gospel Review” is the first in a potential news series in which I seek to review secular entertainment from a gospel perspective. If feedback is generally positive and there is a desire for more articles such as this, then “The Gospel Review” will become an on-going series.

Tyler Hawkins

Tyler Hawkins is pursuing his Master of Divinity from Freed-Hardeman University, is a Chaplain Candidate in the Iowa National Guard, and is a pulpit minister for the Ogden Church of Christ in Ogden, Iowa. Tyler’s ‘bride and joy’ is his wife Megan. They are blessed with two children, Claire and Edwin. To see more content by Tyler, please subscribe to “Digital Bible Study,” and follow his personal Christian Facebook page and Youtube channel @JustSomeChristianGuy.

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Review of Encanto (from a religious perspective)

If you are like my family, then you also love the new Disney movie, Encanto! If you haven’t seen it yet, then I highly recommend it (if you don’t want spoilers, then save this article for later!).

We were listening to the soundtrack on the way home from dropping my son off at school and now the younger three are watching it for the 100th time until it’s time to pick him up again. While we were listening to the soundtrack, I was thinking about the movie and how a lot of it relates to our faith.

There is a lot of symbolism I can draw from the movie that matches our faith and from that, lessons that we can learn from Encanto in order to better live out our faith.

Lessons we can learn from Encanto

Abuelo’s Sacrifice

Who else almost cried when watching the backstory of how Abuelo sacrificed himself for his friends and family? He is a key part of the story. It was his sacrifice that brought the miracle of the candle to the Madrigal family. He sacrificed himself out of love so that his family and community could have a chance at a better life. Does that story sound familiar?

Jesus sacrificed himself for us so that we can have eternal life. His death and resurrection are a miracle for us because now we have a chance to go to heaven. We each have a light in us that shines forth His love, and are blessed with gifts to help it shine brighter and spread to others. It is up to us to keep the light burning.

But don’t worry. Even if the candle goes out for a bit like it did for the Madrigal family, it is never too late to rebuild your faith and light it again.

Use your gifts

Most of the Madrigal family are blessed with special gifts, such as healing powers, strength, foresight, even creating flowers. Instead of keeping their gifts for themselves, they take the opportunity to help their community and use their gifts for good.

How can we apply this lesson as faithful servants of God? Did you know that you are blessed with gifts from God? They are called charisms. We each are called to use our talents God blessed us with for good. For example, maybe God gave you the gift of music. Are you using that gift to glorify God? You can volunteer to sing at nursing homes, join the choir at church, or help out as a liturgical musician. Even if you are not in a place in your life where you can easily do these things, you can sing the songs when you are at church, or sing to your kids at home!

Everyone has a gift- whether or not it is obvious

Mirabel struggles in the movie because she is the only one of the grandkids that did not get blessed with a gift. Or so she thinks. As we watch the movie, it becomes apparent that Mirabel’s gift is being there for her family and helping them get back together. She is a listening ear for her sisters and her compassion shows them that it is ok if they aren’t “perfect.”

Mirabel is the glue that keeps the family together and the one that reminds them of what truly matters in life. Her gift was not apparent to her, and she didn’t feel special like her siblings and cousins. But throughout the movie her parents keep telling her that she is perfect just the way she is. At the end of the movie, her family makes her a door knob, and it is when she inserts it into the door of their rebuilt home that the magic returns! She and her whole family are in the picture on the door. She had a gift all along.

Your gift from God might not be obvious, but you have one! God made you just the way you are for a reason.

Let’s talk about Bruno

Poor Bruno gets stuck with a bad reputation due to his gift of vision of future events. People go to him to get questions about their future answered, but turn against him when they don’t like what he sees. How does this relate to our faith?

Have you ever prayed to God for something, but got an answer to a prayer you didn’t expect? Or maybe you didn’t get any answer. Did you get angry at God? Did you turn on Him? Or did you place your trust in Him and His plan?

Bruno saw the vision of Mirabel and the broken casita. He knew how it would look to everyone and decided to protect Mirabel. Mirabel found the vision and went to Bruno and encouraged him to take another look at the future so that she can figure out what to do. She didn’t get angry at Bruno for the vision, but accepted it and decided to see how it would turn out. She embraced her role in the family in the end.

Do we embrace God’s plan for us? Or get angry and try to keep our own plans?

Can you hear me?

Dolores is Mirabel’s cousin who got gifted with the ability to hear everything. She can hear conversations going on behind closed doors. At the end of the movie when it was revealed to the family that Bruno never disappeared and was hiding in the house the whole time, she commented that she knew he was there because she could hear him.

Even if you think that God is not there, he is always listening to our prayers and hears us. Don’t stop praying! His plan might just look different than what you are asking for.

Mental Health Matters!

One of the reasons I love this movie is because they emphasize the importance of mental health. Luisa sings a song about pressure (I love this one!). The whole family feels pressure to be perfect and use their gifts to the best of their ability. This is in part due to Abuela’s expectations and past trauma. She lost her husband in a tragic way, but because of his sacrifice, received the miracle of the candle, a safe home, and a second chance of life for her, her kids, and her community. She tries so hard to keep the miracle alive and becomes focused on work and preserving that miracle, that she forgets the meaning behind it. She and the rest of the Madrigal family try so hard to be perfect to help others and put them first, that they don’t realize they themselves are broken and need to heal.

Think of the song at the end, “The stars don’t shine, they burn.” The Madrigal family burned out from the constant pressure overload and living up to impossible expectations placed on them.

If you are constantly stressed about being “perfect”, whether it is getting enough traffic on your sight, having a clean home, or setting impossible goals for yourself, you will burn out. Everyone needs a break to mentally and physically relax and remember the purpose of why you are using your gifts in the first place. At the very end of the movie, Luisa helps to lift a heavy pot onto a table, and then gets launched onto a hammock and given a drink so she can relax.

The Miracle is you

Abuela was so focused on work and keeping the miracle alive that she lost focus on what the actual miracle was for. Who else has let anxiety and fear get the best of themselves? I know I have. But at the end of the movie, Mirabel helps her see what was happening in their family. Abuela then says one of my favorite lines in the movie, “The miracle is you.” God created each of us, just the way we are. You are precious to Him. Never forget that.

Community Matters

At the end of the movie when the Madrigal family lost their house and their gifts, the village comes together to help them in their time of need. Community is so important! I have found that God reveals himself to me through others and the kind acts that have shown me and my family. The Church is a family and we are called to be there for each other.

Encanto, while labeled a kids movie, is a wonderful movie for the whole family. It displays many important lessons on family values, mental health, and self sacrifice. It has a very catchy soundtrack that your whole family will dance to and get stuck in their heads for days. Just be prepared to watch it over and over again.

What else would you add to this list? Comment below!

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We Need to Talk About Bruno

Disney's 'encanto' points to the savior.

More By Ryan MacDonald

I frequently start my day hearing the not-so-quiet footsteps of my 4-year-old daughter attempting to sneak into the kitchen and whispering to our Google Home: “Hey Google, play Encanto.” If she had her way, the soundtrack of Disney’s hit E ncanto —which just won the best animated feature Oscar—would play endlessly in our home. My daughter is not alone. During a single week in February, “We Don’t Talk about Bruno” drew 69.3 million streams and claimed the Billboard #1 spot on both the U.S. and global charts .

The catchy song is a standout from the film, for good reason. The mysterious, estranged uncle Bruno proves to be the focal point of Encanto ’s plot—which follows a magical family (the Madrigals) in a hidden Colombian place called Encanto (in English, “charmed” or “delight”). Encanto’s magic has blessed each Madrigal child—except Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz). Her strange lack of a special ability is the first clue that the magic of Encanto is in danger. Mirabel’s quest to discover the problem leads her to Bruno (John Leguizamo)—who was rejected by the family because of his prophecies of doom. Bruno would warn family members about the future, and they’d blame him when his predictions came to pass.

This is the dynamic narrated in “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Watch:

As I watched the movie I couldn’t help but notice parallels between Bruno (the rejected truth-telling prophet) and Jesus Christ. I doubt any of these parallels were intended by Disney, and it’s usually wise to avoid reading into movie characters more “Christ figure” than is there. But to riff on Sally Lloyd-Jones, Encanto is a movie that whispers Jesus’s name. Here’s what I mean.

1. The prophet is rejected and silenced for truth-telling.

Like Jesus, Bruno is a prophet without honor in his hometown (Mark 6:4). The well-meaning uncle speaks truth to those he loves in order to prepare them for what’s to come. Yet instead of receiving the warning, those who hear his words only blame Bruno for bringing disaster. This is true of Jesus as well. One example is in Matthew 12, when Jesus casts out a demon from a blind and mute man. The Pharisees watch this miracle unfold yet accuse Jesus of doing it by the power of Satan (v. 24). Jesus quickly explains that if Satan is attacking himself, his kingdom would soon crumble. “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons,” Jesus continues, “then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12:28).

Likewise, the  Madrigal family as a “household divided against itself” is quite literally crumbling—its kingdom powers will not stand. The Madrigals don’t have eyes to see that Bruno might be a prophet bringing the kingdom rather than destroying it.

Like Jesus, Bruno is a prophet without honor in his hometown.

Like Bruno, the truth-telling prophet Jesus is also rejected by his own followers—even those in his inner circle like Peter, who rebukes Jesus for suggesting a necessary path to suffering (Matt. 16:22) and then denies knowing him (Matt. 26:69–75). In fact, Peter’s brazen denial of any connection to Jesus sounds a lot like the embarrassed shame of the Madrigals when they disassociate from Bruno. Peter and others who abandoned Jesus may as well have said, “We don’t talk about Jesus!”

Jesus “came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:11). Like Bruno, he’s a truth-telling prophet rejected and shunned by his own people.

2. The rejected and silenced prophet is actually the one holding the family together.

The Madrigal family thought Bruno had run away. Yet in Mirabel’s quest for the truth, she discovers he’s actually living in the walls of their family home. Not only that; he’s also holding the house together. Even as he’s been shunned, Bruno remains actively, selflessly at work on the family’s behalf. He is mending the cracked walls caused by the family’s unjust rejection of him.

Bruno, the rejected son, the one interceding on behalf of the very family that betrayed him. What a picture of Christ! While on the cross, the elders and chief priests mocked him: “He saved others; he cannot save himself” (Matt. 27:42). But as D. A. Carson points out , “If he had saved himself, he could not have saved others; the only way he could save others was precisely by not saving himself.” The beauty of Christ’s selfless love for his family—even as they’ve rejected him—is perhaps captured best in his words on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Bruno, too, grieves that his family doesn’t know what they’re doing—but he loves them anyway and readily forgives them.

3. The family is healed only when they receive the once-rejected prophet.

Encanto ’s resolution comes when Bruno is embraced and received back into the family. The song that plays during this beautiful scene of restoration is called “ All of You .” The matriarch of the family welcomes Bruno with open arms by singing, “The miracle is not some magic that you’ve got / the miracle is you, not some gift, just you. / The miracle is you. / All of you, all of you.” Only after the family receives Bruno as “the miracle” can they begin to heal and rebuild their broken paradise.

In a similar way, followers of Jesus are called to believe and receive “the miracle” of the person of Christ: his incarnation, death, and resurrection. Additionally, we’re called to embrace “all of” Jesus, not just the things he says that are palatable to us or the aspects of his personality we enjoy the most. Finally, it’s only when we confess Christ as God’s salvation miracle—a suffering servant sent to reconcile us with the Father—that we receive our new family identity (Mark. 3:35). As John puts it, “to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12–13).

Bruno is by no means a perfect picture of Jesus. There are places throughout the film where the christological resonances break down. Still, in presenting Bruno as a once-rejected, truth-telling prophet, who when received by faith brings healing and wholeness, Encanto offers a shadow of our true Savior. It’s a gift when popular movies offer fodder like this for theological reflection and gospel connections—especially with young viewers. So even if your kids sing, as my daughter does, “We don’t talk about Bruno,” perhaps we should respond with, “We need to talk about Bruno.” And see where the conversation goes.

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Ryan MacDonald (BA, Biola University) is an adoptive and foster dad, pastor at Southlands Church, and regional director for Foster the City in Southern California. Ryan is also a student at Western Seminary. He and his wife, Stacie, live in Brea, California, with their three children.

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In defense of ‘Encanto’ from Christian critics

The trailers for “Encanto” never interested me. In fact, I busied myself with other matters when my family first watched the film. And when I did finally see it myself, I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it.

I could appreciate its artistry, but I didn’t consider it something worth repeat viewing. The rest of my family, however, fell in the love with the story from the get-go, and with each successive watch, I have come to appreciate it more and more.

Strangely enough, the more I have grown in my love for this movie, the more I’ve heard from my film-critic friends (I am blessed to know a handful) whose responses to the film have ranged from indifference to forceful opposition. The more negative opinions I hear, the more motivated I’ve become to share why I think “Encanto” warrants more appreciation and less criticism — especially from Christian audiences.

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Before we go any further, I need to make a couple of clarifications. First, I am not the biggest fan of Disney as of late. Many of the conglomerate’s business practices and ideological leanings rub me wrong. So when people lob critiques at the company, I’m not the first to rush to Mickey’s defense. This case is an exception to the rule.

Second, attention must be drawn to the songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. They may not be to everyone’s tastes, but Miranda does something strikingly original (for a Disney film, at least): he weaves melodic phrases and lyrics throughout the movie so that a snippet of one song will show up in another.

There is a thematic continuity among the musical numbers, where each relies on the others for its full and complete expression. The interconnectivity between the songs provides a rich musical tapestry, rewarding each successive viewing with additional insights on what that particular line means, why this particular sentiment is phrased exactly like it is, or why that musical measure appears in that particular section of the song. A proper evaluation of “Encanto” must take into account the wealth of information included in the film’s musical numbers.

Fair warning: the following analysis contains spoilers galore. You would do well to watch the film before reading any further.

As I see it, most of the serious objections to “Encanto” are based on a mischaracterization of Abuela , the matriarchal figure, as the functional villain. Abuela may be an antagonist in a technical sense (in that she opposes Mirabel , the heroin, on nearly every step of her journey), but she is not the antagonist in the sense of being a villain, or heavy, or “bad guy.”

The movie doesn’t have a villain in the traditional sense , choosing rather to find conflict in family relationship tensions . Imagining Abuela as the film’s functional villain morphs her character into something it is not and warps the narrative intent of the filmmakers.

If there is a functional villain (from the standpoint of the characters in the story, at least), it is Bruno , the self-exiled son of Abuela. We find out, of course, that Bruno is not a bad guy. Far from it. If anything, he plays the crucial role of mentor in Mirabel’s “mission quest thing” ( so to speak ). For much of the film, however, the Madrigal family operates as if Bruno is a bad guy, emphasizing their memories of him with the lime-green colors of traditional Disney villains in the song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” (We’ll discuss Bruno more in a bit.)

For her part, Abuela is a character who has failed to properly deal with the loss of her husband for the last 50 years. Grasping at the memory she has of him (personified by their wedding candle, which has been transformed into a dispenser of magical gifts), she has dedicated her life to “ keep the miracle burning ,” controlled by her fear of losing anyone or anything else.

This reality is illustrated throughout the movie. For one, she repeatedly dons a black shawl, stuck in a cycle of unending grief. For another, the song “Dos Oruguitas” (“Two Caterpillars”), which plays over her backstory, includes the repeated refrain “Don’t you hold on too tight,” since both she and her husband (the “caterpillars” of the song) must part ways and be reunited later.

The melody for “Dos Oruguitas” plays under Abuela’s part in the film’s opening number, “The Family Madrigal,” hinting thematically at what is controlling her — an insistence on “hold[ing] on too tight” and refusing to let her husband go. She confesses as much in the song, “All of You”:

And I’m sorry I held on too tight Just so afraid I’d lose you too The miracle is not some magic that you’ve got The miracle is you, not some gift, just you The miracle is you

Abuela first comes to this realization when she has returned to the river where she lost her husband. It is here where the song “Dos Oruguitas” stops referring to her as a caterpillar and starts referring to her as a butterfly, underscoring the reality that Abuela is crawling out of the cocoon of her grief-infused fears, which enables her to love her children and grandchildren for who they are, not how they can help her keep a precarious balance ignoring family problems for the sake of a mirage she heretofore has failed to relinquish.

It is this understanding of Abuela’s character arc that informs and clarifies the narrative beats of the rest of the film.

The paradox of an 'earned' salvation

For example, Abuela’s refusal to accept the loss of her husband, and the literal salvation obtained by his self-sacrifice, leads her to view the magical gifts her family has received into an achievement they have acquired. In religious language, she has turned salvation by grace into salvation by works.

This paradigm of earning salvation through self-effort underscores her entire demeanor, as well as the standard she imposes upon her children and grandchildren: “Make your family proud.” As the story shows, this standard is proving, over time, to slowly suffocate her family. Those under the matriarch’s rule are buckling under the weight of her expectations.

Abuela’s lofty standards are shown, not only in her words and actions but also in many of “Encanto’s” songs. During the opening number, as we have already seen, Abuela sings about how the family must “earn the miracle” they have received. Hers is a paradigm that requires nothing less than perfection from its adherents.

And sure enough, when Mirabel sings about her two older sisters, she shows how Abuela’s mindset has infiltrated her own thinking: “My older sisters…[are] perfect in every way”; and “The beauty [Isabela] and the brawn [Luisa] do no wrong.” That’s the expectation passed down from Abuela: absolute perfection.

This expectation is recognized with frustration by both Luisa and Isabela in their respective songs. In “Surface Pressure,” Luisa focuses mostly on the pressure placed on her specifically (“I feel,” “I can’t,” “I fail,” etc.), but she also mentions how the entire family feels the same weight (“ we measure this growing pressure,” “all we know is pressure”).

Similarly, in “What Else Can I Do?” Isabela sings how she makes “perfect, practiced poses,” but after accidentally creating her first cactus (instead of roses), she says, “It’s not symmetrical or perfect,” and adds later, “What could I do if I just knew it didn’t need to be perfect?”

The demand from an authority figure to be perfect — which Isabela clearly experiences throughout the film — is a burden no child can bear without pride (in the face of perceived success) or despondency (in the face of perceived failure). (Interestingly enough, as we get to know these characters, Isabela demonstrates the former, while Luisa demonstrates the latter.)

The burden of Abuela’s expectations is felt by her family members, even if it’s not fully understood. No less than three of Abuela’s grandchildren try to convince themselves in song form that they are fine: Mirabel tells herself (unconvincingly), “I'm fine, I am totally fine” (in “Waiting on a Miracle”), and both Dolores and Isabela insist (unconvincingly), “I’m fine!” (in “We Don’t Talk about Bruno”). There are relational problems within the family Madrigal, but those problems are being neither acknowledged nor addressed.

So when Isabela is finally able to confess the burden of the façade she’s been keeping up (to make her family proud), it enables her to create more than just roses: now she can create cacti, jacarandas, figs, vines, a Palma de Cera, tabebuia, and so on.

This newfound creativity is not just simply another example of our culture’s hyper-individualized, “follow your heart” indoctrination; it is not the result of Isabela rejecting her gift for the purpose of self-expression to the detriment of her family. Rather, her newfound creativity is the expression of her freedom from what is essentially works-righteousness. This freedom allows her to utilize her gift more fully. She is finally experiencing what it’s like to live outside of the crushing burden of her grandmother’s unrealistic expectations.

A manly woman and unmanly men?

Before evaluating a few key thematic applications of “Encanto,” there are a couple of specific critiques I wish to briefly address. Both of them have to do with gender roles.

First is the character design of Luisa . With a large and muscular build, she is considered by some to be an assault on reality , and a subtle and intentional effort by Disney to substitute masculinity for femininity. While I can understand where this criticism comes from (I don’t think it’s being pulled entirely out of thin air), I haven’t found the supporting evidence for a literal conspiracy to be convincing. The most glaring hole in this argument is the fact that it was Luisa’s artists — not Disney executives — that pushed for her particular body build. In fact, Luisa’s character designers had to fight Disney for their vision of Luisa’s character, as the studio pushed for a more petite design .

Second, is the role of men in the film. Some consider each and every male character to be passive, sidelined and lacking any real agency. While I can see traces of evidence that would lead some to such a conclusion, I don’t think that does justice to the full scope of these characters’ personalities.

Mirabel’s father (and mother) actively work to protect and encourage their daughter. They remind Mirabel (in what appears to be a daily, or at least a repeated, ritual), “Remember, you have nothing to prove.” And when the father, Agustín , is confronted by Abuela about keeping Bruno’s vision a secret, with her saying, “You should have told me right away — think about the family,” he doesn’t back down: “I was thinking about my daughter!”

Mirabel’s uncle, Félix , shows obvious affection for his family, and persistent patience with his emotionally fraught, storm-causing wife, Pepa . This patience is shown in at least a couple of places. First, when Pepa is singing about how Bruno ruined her wedding day, Félix sings along with her, and when she complains about Bruno’s actions, the natural thing would have been for Félix to agree with her. And yet he gently pushes back against her soiled memory of the day by singing, “What a joyous day, but anyway.”

Her sentiments don’t exactly match his, and he’s not afraid to (gently) push back. And near the end of the movie, when Bruno clarifies his words to Pepa on her wedding day (singing, “I wanted you to know that your bro loves you so”), Félix responds with, “That’s what I’m always saying.”

Then, of course, there’s Bruno. He’s absent for much of the film, but it is his vision, and his encouragement of Mirabel that propels the story forward, enabling Mirabel to find the solution to the disintegration of their home, Casa Madrigal (or Casita).

And while it’s even been said that the song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” could be a clandestine way of the filmmakers saying, “We don’t talk about men,” the reality is that everyone involved in singing that song is shown to be wrong — utterly and completely wrong. Not talking about Bruno (and, if you so choose to believe, not talking about men in general) is a mistake based on misinformation. In the end, the characters do talk about — and love and celebrate — Bruno. And rightly so.

Not to mention, of course, the single and greatest act of selfless love shown in the entire movie: when Pedro — a man — sacrifices his life for the good of his family. His actions not only save Abuela and her three newborns but also usher in the miracle that protects them throughout the rest of the film. Pedro is a man who chooses not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

In short, if not for the men of “Encanto,” there would be no “Encanto.”

Grief and grace and growth, oh my!

As it seems was intended by the filmmakers, “Encanto” acts as an exploration of a wrong response to grief and loss. As not intended by the filmmakers, “Encanto” can illustrate numerous distinctly Christian themes as well. We will briefly explore just three.

First, and as hinted at earlier, the story illustrates the difference between law and Gospel, between the freedom of grace and the bondage of legalism. As a friend of mine puts it in an online discussion: “[T]he more [the Madrigals] drift away from the joy and unity [the miracle] intended to bring to the family… the more harm they suffer in their relationships and souls. It is when they stop trying to be perfect for the sake of maintaining the miracle that they really experience peace and enjoy it.”

Second, Encanto acts as an adept examination of the Church and spiritual gifts . Just as the Madrigals emphasized their more demonstratively magical members (Isabela and Luisa), so can the church prioritize the more flashy gifts (prophecy, healings, etc.) at the expense of more “mundane” gifts (mercy, administration, etc.). And yet, as the body of Christ, we all need each other. As 1 Corinthians 12:22 points out, “[T]hose members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.”

There should be no division within the church between “special” and “not special” members and gifts: “there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another” (v. 25).

Third, Encanto shows how God can use suffering to correct our priorities and provide us with what we really need rather than what we think we need. When we petition God to help us grow in faith and love and every grace , He often answers by inserting trials into our lives and showing us more of our sin. This brings us to the end of ourselves, which drives us closer to God and enables us to enjoy and glorify him more.

In the same vein, Abuela prays (so to speak) the following: “Open my eyes. If the answer is here, help me find it. Help me protect our family.” What she doesn’t realize is that she is the one damaging her family. Mirabel’s actions disrupt Abuela’s overbearing and precarious control, razing the matriarch’s misaligned priorities (and the family’s home) to the ground. The answer to Abuela’s prayer feels at first like the opposite of what she wants, and yet it is exactly what she needs. She asked for protection, and what she receives is an awareness of her sin, leading to repentance, absolution, and the rebuilding of the family (and their home) on a new and better foundation. What better protection could there be for her family than that?

A charming and magical gift

“Encanto” is not a perfect film. Certain story beats stretch credibility, certain character arcs are relegated to song lyrics , and one particular resolution (related to the infamous Bruno) feels rushed. Nevertheless, and especially after multiple viewings, the film’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses.

“Encanto” is a charming break from the Disney mold, beautifully (albeit, inadvertently) promoting a distinctly Christian understanding of the world in a kaleidoscope of narrative elements, the likes of which have not been seen in a Disney film in years — if not decades.

Cap Stewart is the author of the curriculum  Personal Purity Isn’t Enough: The Long-Forgotten Secret to Making Scriptural Entertainment Choices . As a cultural commentator, he has contributed to  Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues  (Zondervan Academic, 2019), among other print and online publications. He has been blogging at  capstewart.com  since 2006.

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Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Movie Review: ‘Encanto’

NEW YORK (CNS) — Will viewers be charmed by “Encanto” (Disney)? For the most part, the answer is probably yes, though this vivacious animated musical does include content that could be of concern for the parents of impressionable kids.

The setting, from which the film takes its title, is an enchanted enclave in Colombia. Long ago, this realm became home to Alma (voice of María Cecilia Botero), a then-young refugee mother who had recently been widowed when her courageous husband fell afoul of a band of soldiers.

Now, Abuela Alma presides as the matriarch of both her community and her family, the Madrigals, each member of which has traditionally received a supernatural talent on reaching the age of 5. All, that is, except Alma’s 15-year-old granddaughter Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz) who, a decade back, awaited her gift in vain.

As Mirabel, strong-willed Alma and Mirabel’s protective parents, Julieta (voice of Angie Cepeda) and Agustín (voice of Wilmer Valderrama), continue to wrestle with this misfortune, they find themselves threatened with a far worse one. A dark vision of the whole clan’s doom granted years before to Mirabel’s Uncle Bruno (voice of John Leguizamo) seems on the verge of fulfillment.

Amid colorful visuals and catchy songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the script, penned by Charise Castro Smith and Jared Bush (both of whom co-directed with Byron Howard), delivers worthy messages about community service, cooperation and family reconciliation. Yet “Encanto” may not be a good fit for the youngest moviegoers for a variety of reasons.

Along with the screenplay’s strong emphasis on magic — including divination — and the vivid dangers through which Mirabel must pass, the movie also includes a slightly ambiguous treatment of religion.

Thus the namesake area includes a church whose amiable, briefly glimpsed priest is shown to be a local leader. Yet if the mystical is pervasive — the Madrigals, for example, live in a house that’s essentially alive and that moves its elements around to protect and accommodate them — Christianity has only a marginal presence in the movie. That’s an imbalance that might be hard to explain to small fry.

On the other hand, there’s certainly no note of animosity against the faith discernable in the proceedings. Instead, Catholicism seems to be momentarily acknowledged as part of the culture, but then implicitly relegated to a state of mild-mannered irrelevance.

“Encanto” is preceded by a sweet-natured short cartoon, “Far From the Tree.” The story of an overly curious young racoon, it includes some potentially scary moments, but is otherwise acceptable for all.

The film contains nonscriptural beliefs and practices and characters in peril. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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What Disney’s “Encanto” Can Teach Us About Our Faith

January 23, 2022.

In typical Disney fashion, they’ve decided to give us another beautiful, deep film filled with catchy songs, beautiful animation, and a story that will be ingrained in your brain for a long time.

The story follows the protagonist, Mirabel, the young daughter of a Columbian family, living in a magical ‘casita’, who all received supernatural gifts after surviving a tragedy. Well, everyone received gifts, except Mirabel. The film follows her journey of realizing why she wasn’t given a gift, what is happening to the magic, and what that means for her family.

For those who have not seen the film, I would 100% recommend seeing it. See it with your family, friends, and make sure you save time for a little discussion after. This article is not a review, and full of spoilers, so if you haven’t seen the movie, go see it first, and read this after.

SPOILERS AHEAD

One of the most fascinating things I found about this movie is that every character carried with them a beautiful spiritual lesson that relates directly to the teachings of the Bible, starting with the matriarch of the family, Abuela Alma

Abuela Alma

The grandmother, matriarch, and at times, villian of the family had been through a lot. She and her husband rescued their three young children from a village being violently taken over by savages. They worked with the community to find a better life, until her husband was forced to sacrifice his life for their safety. Following his death is when Abuela Alma is given the miracle candle and the magical ‘casita’ to help bring the community a new life together.

As we find out later in the film, Abuela has been psychologically holding the family hostage, with everyone afraid to break from her mold to avoid upsetting her, and breaking the appearance of the perfect family.

When the moment happened where her husband was killed in front of her, we see a beautifully written scene where Abuela is overcome with pain. In the moment of pain, we see all the mountains climb around her, building up walls from the outside world, and sealing her in from anymore hurt.

While this is a natural response to any traumatic moment, we need to leave room for growth, and work to not let our pain cause hurt for others.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:16

When we choose to force people to live by our standards, putting pressure on them, and hurting them by avoiding our own pain, we are preventing them from living in harmony with those around them, as well as preventing ourselves from doing the same

Isabela is the eldest sister of Mirabel, and is praised for being “perfect”. She was given the gift of creating flowers, while maintaining her “perfect” life as a woman with perfect beauty, the perfect boyfriend, and everyone loving her for having no faults. Throughout the movie she practically floats on vines creating beautiful tapestries of flowers as Mirabel watches with a hint of jealousy.

What we see revealed later is a moment where Isabel drops her “perfect” facade and in a moment of anger, says “I never wanted to marry him, I was only doing it for the family”. In her moment of truth, a cactus pops up, and she looks in wonder at the fact that she has the power to create more than just flowers when she isn’t holding back.

In faith, there is a temptation to give off “perfect” vibes. We want people to see us as having it all together, as having all the answers, and never struggling, when in reality, the opposite has a more powerful effect.

When we’re open about our vulnerabilities, we can bring people along the journey with us more closely, and unlocks truths about ourselves that can change lives that we never saw possible.

These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote. Isaiah 29:13

Isabela had no idea how powerful she was until she dropped her act and started being real. Christians can do the same. Once we start acting like Christ and not just saying it, we can change lives bigger than we ever thought possible.

Bruno is a mysterious character that holds a huge key to unlocking the meaning of this film, and represents something huge in our lives.

Bruno was given the gift of seeing the future, but when he started telling people things that they didn’t want to hear (that ended up being true), the ostracized him, refused to even mention his name, and he locked himself away in the house. His own mother forbids the family to speak of him.

When it’s discovered later in the movie that he’s been there all along, in the walls, watching and craving involvement and love in the family, there were a few things that struck me:

• Bruno was patching the house from the outside. When cracks started to form in the magical ‘casita’, Bruno was doing his best to patch things up to protect the family from what he knew was coming. Whenever we have a struggle in our lives, it’s so easy to just want to patch things up quick, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW the issue is deeper than that. WE KNOW we need to change our hearts, but we avoid it.
• Abuela forbid mention of Bruno. Whenever we have sin it our lives, it’s so easy to just cast it aside, pretend it’s not there and choose not to think about it. However, it is there. It knows the truth of what we’ve been through, and if we don’t confront it, we live in constant fear of it being revealed.

Bruno ended up being the one to reveal the truth to Mirabel of what she needed to do to really heal their family. Sometimes, we just need to step up and do it.

Many of the other characters are reflective of the struggles in our lives that we need to overcome:

Feels forced to be strong for the town and struggles with high expectations

Her emotions create weather, so she forced herself not to feel things as to not be a burden on others

Gifted with shapeshifting, he was always pretending to be someone else, and was almost never his true self

Her gift at hearing made her more focused on everyone else, and not on herself

Scripture reminds us:

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 149:14-16

We all have things that make us unique, but depending on how we use those gifts, it can create beauty, or isolate us.

Choose beauty. Choose community. Choose to use your gifts to build each other up, and not isolate yourself.

Christians Who Curse Sometimes is a brand looking to deepen your faith in real practical ways.  Personally, I am a husband, father, and meme creator.  I love connecting with real people, and showing that no matter what your story is, you can have an impact and change lives.

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Finding something the whole family can watch during the holidays is a perennial challenge. It’s as much a part of tradition as turkey on Thanksgiving and Christmas carols on the radio soon after. This holiday season, Disney is serving up a warm, feel-good family friendly movie called “Encanto,” a Colombian magical realist tale of a family that received special powers after surviving a tragedy. Now, a few generations later, they live together in a magical house and each member develops their own talent, like the ability to control the weather, shapeshift into other people, and talk to animals. Their casita (house) responds to the family’s requests and responds to their moods. Each bedroom is magically tailored to the relative and their magical gift. All except for one, Mirabel ( Stephanie Beatriz ). 

“Encanto” follows the “girl with no apparent gift” Mirabel, who tries her best to fit in a family so extraordinary that her judgmental Abuela Alma ( María Cecilia Botero ) offers only her disappointment at every turn. For Mirabel, it’s tough to stand out when her mom, Julieta ( Angie Cepeda ), can heal wounds with her cooking—more specifically, her arepas con queso, her sister Luisa ( Jessica Darrow ) can lift the heaviest of objects with ease, and her sister Isabela ( Diane Guerrero ) can grow the most beautiful flowers without barely thinking about it. Mirabel notices the family’s casita is starting to show cracks, but no one believes her and downplays her worries as something her estranged eccentric uncle Bruno ( John Leguizamo ) would say. It’s up to Mirabel to find out what’s happening to save both her family and her home. 

Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard (“ Zootopia ”) and co-director Charise Castro Smith (” Raya and the Last Dragon ”), who bears more than a passing resemblance to the movie’s main character, have created another kind hearted movie about misfits trying to do the right thing. Most notably, there’s no villain in this Disney movie, just a nebulous “unknown” threatening the family and their home. The conflict is minimal at best, which allows for Mirabel to spend more time learning about what she can do despite her lack of powers, but it also leaves the movie feeling a bit meandering. To make up for lost action, the movie shines in its animation and design, really making use of the house with doors to new worlds and musical sequences that allow for a little more abstract artistic freedom. 

Speaking of those musical sequences, I think it’s time Lin-Manuel Miranda takes a break. After knocking it out of the park with “In the Heights,” “ Hamilton ” and “ Moana ,” his 2021 offerings have been a little lackluster. For this review, I finally watched the movie “ Vivo ,” in which he voices the title character as well as handles the song writing duties. Those numbers sounded flimsy and forgettable. In one song, he rhymes “drum” with… “drum.” In “Encanto,” the odds are a little better, more songs fare better than others, but there’s still a sense that these musical numbers are the reheated leftovers from other projects. They sound like his work, but don’t offer anything new or exciting to get stuck in our heads. Isabela and Luisa’s disposable pop songs "What Else Can I Do?" and "Surface Pressure" are cloyingly repetitive. “The Family Madrigal” is a less effective version of the opening song from “In the Heights.” Only Carlos Vives’ rendition of Miranda’s song "Colombia, Mi Encanto" sounds like a memorable stand-out.

Unimpressive songs are an unfortunate thing to befall an animated musical like “Encanto.” Thankfully, there are other elements to enjoy like the movie’s boisterous voice cast that includes Carolina Gaitán , Rhenzy Feliz , Ravi Cabot-Conyers , Wilmer Valderrama , Mauro Castillo , and one-name Latin music stars Maluma and Adassa. It’s also impressive to see an animated Disney movie finally include varying skin tones and hair textures in the same family, while also incorporating Colombian fashion like ponchos, flowing embroidered skirts, colorful dresses and guayaberas as part of a character’s details. Beatriz is magnificent as Mirabel, embodying both pain and love in her voice throughout the film, yet never losing a sense of the goofy playfulness that makes her character so likeable. Abuela’s singing voice comes from the one and only Olga Merediz , another “In the Heights” alum.

Similar to how Pixar’s “ Coco ” paid tribute to Mexican culture, “Encanto” holds many nods to its Colombian roots, from the use of flowers and animals specific to the regions to crafting songs that incorporated their respective countries’ musical palette. In both stories, the matriarchal abuelas have to also go through an emotional journey just as much (if not more) than the younger protagonists in the movie. It’s an interesting development to see both Pixar and Disney Animation move into the world tour phase of their storytelling, but I hope they avoid repeating each other in thematic and narrative elements. 

One difference is that “Encanto” explores the Madrigals’ backstory beyond their household, showing the Madrigal grandparents fleeing their homeland for safety and Abuelo’s ultimate sacrifice in an artistic flashback. The story of a homeland lost and the family who rebuilt in a new land is not an uncommon one for many immigrant families, and by sensitively including it as part of a charming Disney movie, perhaps will give a new generation a better sense of belonging or at least the comfort that others have shared their experience. It may help kids who didn’t grow up with those stories of a “paradise lost” to understand those that did. Maybe that’s an optimistic view for a movie many will flock to in a post-turkey coma, but despite a few missteps, “Encanto” is one of the more charming animated movies to hit theaters this year. 

Exclusively in theaters today. 

Monica Castillo

Monica Castillo is a critic, journalist, programmer, and curator based in New York City. She is the Senior Film Programmer at the Jacob Burns Film Center and a contributor to  RogerEbert.com .

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Film credits.

Encanto (2021)

Rated PG for some thematic elements and mild peril.

Stephanie Beatriz as Mirabel Madrigal (voice)

John Leguizamo as Bruno Madrigal (voice)

María Cecilia Botero as Abuela Alma Madrigal (voice)

Wilmer Valderrama as Agustín Madrigal (voice)

Diane Guerrero as Isabela Madrigal (voice)

Jessica Darrow as Luisa Madrigal (voice)

Angie Cepeda as Julieta Madrigal (voice)

Adassa as Dolores Madrigal (voice)

Mauro Castillo as Félix Madrigal (voice)

Rhenzy Feliz as Camilo Madrigal (voice)

Carolina Gaitán as Pepa Madrigal (voice)

Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Antonio Madrigal (voice)

Maluma as Mariano (voice)

Alan Tudyk as Pico (voice)

• Byron Howard

Co-director

• Charise Castro Smith

Writer (story by)

• Lin-Manuel Miranda

Cinematographer

• Alessandro Jacomini
• Daniel Rice
• Nathan Detroit Warner
• Jeremy Milton

Composer (original score composed by)

• Germaine Franco

Composer (original songs by)

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Below are Kids Movie Talking Points for Encanto.

Everyone in Mirabel’s family has a unique magical gift. What are some of the gifts that God has given each member of your family?

How do those gifts bless your family?

Why does God give us gifts and talents?

We are given gifts not to serve ourselves, but to serve others, especially the church. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Mirabel is sad because she isn’t given a magical gift. How can we be happy if we aren’t gifted like others?

Gifts are a blessing, but the greatest gift of all is that we are loved by God. If God loved us so much that he died for us, then even if we don’t have gifts that others do we can still be happy.

In the movie, Luisa feels like she is going to crack under the pressure of feeling like she always needs to be perfect. Do you ever feel like that?

What should we do when we feel worried that we can’t be perfect?

We must remember that we can’t be perfect because we all sin. In fact, 1 John 1:8 says, “if anyone claims to be without sin, he is a liar and the truth is not him.” Thankfully, Jesus was perfect. He never cracked under the pressure, but died on the cross in our place so we could be perfect in his sight. Now, if we’ve trusted in Christ, we work to please our loving, heavenly Father (Col. 3:23), and if we try our best and fail we are still loved by him, and we can learn from our mistakes.

Mirabel’s grandma, Abuela Madrigal, ends up valuing the magical family gifts more than her family. What do you tend to wrongly value more than people?

We should value God more than anything or anyone (Matt. 22:37-39), and we should love people next after God. When we value things over God and people we hurt others and we don’t use our gifts or possessions to bless others, which is the most fun way to use them.

How can we grow to value God and people more than things?

By seeing how God valued us by dying in our place. We don’t deserve his love, but by his grace he died for us. When we trust in Christ we know he’s forgiven us and loves us and that causes us to love and value him more than anything. When we’re filled up with God’s love we want to pour it into others. Also, when we love God first we want to obey him by loving people.

Mike McGregor

Mike McGregor (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is Director of College Ministry at First Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. You can follow him on Twitter at @m5mcgregor.

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‘Encanto’ Review: In This House, We Make Magic

Disney’s new film, about a gifted family in Colombia, has stunning animation, a beautifully composed story and spellbinding songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

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By Maya Phillips

For better or worse, Disney has always been in the business of making magic. We all know the worst: the unimpressive secondhand sorcery of formulaic plots, flavorless songs and lifeless animation. But the best — well, that’s the kind of magic that gets passed on for generations.

So it’s not unlike the magic of Casita, the living house of the Madrigal family in Disney’s brilliant new animated film “Encanto.” Forget Alexa — Casita’s a smart home like no other. She speaks in a language of clapped tiles and flapping window shutters, and helps keep things in order.

And she has her traditions: When each young Madrigal comes of age, she grants them a gift and a door to a new bedroom, an impossibly large and elaborately designed chamber themed around a special ability. It all started years ago, when the Madrigal matriarch, Abuela Alma (María Cecilia Botero), and her family fled the violence of their village. After a tragic loss, however, a miracle appeared in the form of a candle that granted the kids their powers. There’s a shape-shifter, a prophet, a healer and more — and then there’s Mirabel (a perfectly cast Stephanie Beatriz), the muggle of the clan.

When Mirabel finds herself in the middle of a mystery about the future of her family’s magic, she goes on a mission to figure out how she can stop the worst from happening. It’s a surprisingly small-scale story: Instead of on a journey, the action unfolds in and around the Madrigal home. But that’s because “Encanto” is most interested in the love and struggles of family, without silly side characters or romantic leads.

The computer animation, some of the best from any major studio in the last several years, presents a dazzling confabulation of hues and a meticulous weaving of precious details — like the embroidery on skirts, the golden-brown crust of a cheese arepa and the selection of native Colombian flora.

In “Encanto” there’s a robust engagement with, and respect for, Latino culture in all of its dimensions. The Madrigal family members’ skin tones range from lighter to darker, their hair textures from straight to kinky-curly. And the grand pooh-bah of the contemporary musical movie score, Lin-Manuel Miranda , provides a spellbinding soundtrack of songs combining salsa, bachata and hip-hop played with traditional folk instruments from Colombia.

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• Blog: Movies , Parenting

Why Encanto is Better Than Turning Red in Every Way

• March 15, 2022

I’m on record as being a bit of a Pixar geek. Up is one of my favorite movies. Inside Out gave me a whole new lexicon to talk about feelings. What other studio can boast such a high percentage of movies with a 90%-or-greater “Freshness” rating on Rotten Tomatoes? (I’ll give you a hint: none.)

Moreover, Pixar’s films—though made ostensibly for children—have typically offered remarkably mature messages. These folks have dared to communicate rather unsexy truths about responsibility, selflessness, sadness, etc., and in such beautiful, engaging and really fun ways. They made you laugh. They made you cry. And yet, they almost always made you think a bit, too.

All this and more made plucky Pixar the gold standard of creative animated storytelling for two decades or more. Every other studio—including parent company Disney, the revered Mouse House itself—was fighting for second place.

No more. And while that change has probably been in process for a few years now, two recent movies illustrate that shift particularly well: Disney’s Encanto and Pixar’s Turning Red .

Both focus on girls in their early-ish teens. In Encanto , we meet 15-year-old Mirabel Madrigal, a non-magical girl living in a wildly magical house. In Turning Red , 13-year-old Mei is our focal point as she discovers that adolescence comes with an unexpected challenge: She turns into a giant red panda.

Both girls love their respective families. But both of those families are, in their own ways, incredibly demanding. And our respective protagonists are struggling to deal with their familial responsibilities.

Mirabel’s Colombian casa is a multigenerational compound—ruled lovingly but firmly by Mirabel’s Abuela. Long ago, after a devastating tragedy, Abuela Madrigal and her family were given a miraculous gift—a magic candle that bestowed magical gifts on (almost) every family member. For generations, those gifts have been used to bless and benefit the surrounding community.

But over time, that sense of duty—and more importantly, Abuela’s own sense of how that duty should look —has taken a toll on the family. Most members don’t speak about it. Some dare not even think about it. But super-strong Luisa worries what might happen if she carries too much weight. Graceful Isabella can conjure up beautiful flowers; but sometimes, she’s just in a cactus mood, y’know? And that sort of divergence is something that Abuela just won’t tolerate. In the song “Surface Pressure,” Luisa voices what many a Madrigal feels: “Who am I if I can’t carry it all?”

Meanwhile, in Turning Red’ s Lee family, Mei thrives under her mother’s exacting standards—until her inner panda begins to make its presence known. She really wants to go to a boy-band concert that her mother feels is inappropriate. “We’ve been so good!” Mei gripes. “If [parents] don’t trust us anyway, what’s the point?” So she starts lying and sneaking behind her mom’s back. That, too, is a reaction to the pressure her own family puts on her to be their perfect little girl.

So both stories are about perfection, too—the pressures that a family can place on its members and the  pressure that children feel to meet those expectations.

In real-life adolescence, those expectations and the growing understanding that you’ll never meet them—that you might, in fact, be a very different person than your parents might like you to be—often hit a crisis point. And that happens in both of these movies, too. Our respective heroines have showdowns with their much-loved, very demanding matriarchs. But the messages the movies set down for us are quite different.

In Pixar’s Turning Red , Mei’s mother (and the rest of the Lee women) participate in a ceremony to rid Mei of her pesky panda spirit animal. But during the ceremony, Mei decides she wants to keep the panda—even though it sometimes makes things messy. Moreover, she’s going to that boy-band concert with her friends. And at that concert—after her mother follows her to it—Mei plants her flag and says that, at the age of 13, she’s her own woman now. She’s not going to do everything her mother says.

“I’m not your little Mei Mei, Mom,” she says. “I lied … I like boys! I like loud music! I like gyrating! I’m 13! Deal with it!”

As I said in my review, Mei has some valid points here. Mei’s not her mother’s little girl anymore. And Mom should acknowledge that Mei’s growing up … and growing into her own skin.

But let’s be honest: Most 13-year-olds aren’t exactly masters at making wise, healthy, thoughtful decisions. And letting teens drive their own lives without setting down some really serious guardrails can have serious, sometimes tragic, consequences. In Turning Red’ s time period (the early 2000s), those consequences were dangerous enough. But now? With technology and social media opening so many doors for teens that they might not fully understand? The movie’s message of letting your teens do their own thing seems, honestly, a little irresponsible.

“My panda, my choice,” Mei says at the end, a riff on the pro-choice catchphrase of the day. But choices come with consequences—not just for the people making those choices, but the moms and dads and family and friends who love those people. And parents still need to be deeply involved in their kids’ lives … even sometimes when their kids would rather they not be.

For decades, Disney had long peddled one series of messages above all: Follow your dreams. Be true to yourself. Don’t let anyone get in the way of who you want to be. And those are not inherently bad messages … if put in some context. But sometimes, those same messages—where “I” trumps “we,” where individuality trumps community—can be harmful, both to the individual and community.

With Turning Red , Pixar took this simplistic, oft-told package of messages and put it in a furry red box. Here, Mei’s “me” bests the movie’s “we.” And it left the story not just a little lacking in Pixar-like depth, but it hurt the movie itself. It didn’t feel as rich. As beautiful. As fun .

Meanwhile, Disney’s Encanto went Pixar on us.

Mirabel also pushes back hard on the strictures and constraints that her Abuela had placed on her and on the rest of the family. When the Madrigal house begins to break, Abuela blames Mirabel for the fractures. But Mirabel—in a burst of anger—points out that it’s Abuela who’s doing the breaking.

And she’s right. By the movie’s end, everyone knows it. And it takes the nonmagical Mirabel to rescue the family’s magic.

But here’s the difference. Turning Red ends, literally, with Mei walking out of the family temple to be with her friends—telling her mom, essentially, so long and don’t wait up . Meanwhile, Encanto ends with Mirabel at home —a home she’s helped rebuild. She’s with her family, all of whom (thanks to her frank talk) have both a renewed sense of who they are and a renewed energy to do the family, and the community, proud.

If the “I” tops “we” in Turning Red , in Encanto, the “I” and “we” walk together—both aspects strengthened and enriched by the other.

I think we can hear echoes of God in that.

God designed us to be who we are, each with our own gifts, our own challenges, our own weaknesses. We are golden strands in His grand tapestry, and we shine through our individuality.

But we are, of course, part of that tapestry. We were not designed to live only for ourselves. We were designed to work with, and live for, each other, too. Our stories are part of bigger stories. We are pieces of other puzzles. We are parts of families, be they bonds of blood or affection, whether we live in the same house or not.

There’s a paradox in play here, a paradox that Encanto gets and that Turning Red does not: We are most ourselves when we understand our ties, and responsibilities , to others. Our individual character shines brightest when we’re part of our team.

Turning Red is not a bad movie. It’s kind of fun, kind of true. But its bright red panda takes a back seat to Encanto’ s multicolored, magical house—a house filled with rooms, a house filled with family, a house filled with beauty and meaning.

Maybe Pixar can learn—or rather, re-learn—something from its larger studio partner.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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53 Responses

-In my opinion Pixar’s been on a downward slide for awhile now as evidenced by the downright horrible toy story 4 soul and cars 3 and the not nearly as good as it could have been coco. Pixar’s still capable of wowing me like in the ten times better than the original Incredibles 2 and the better than it has any right to be onward, but I haven’t even tried Luca or turning red or even encanto for that matter and don’t plan on anytime soon. It’s sadly apparent that the days of ratatouille brave inside out big hero 6 the princess and the frog or even finding Dory are behind us now.

-In fairness Encanto, Big Hero 6, and The Princess and the Frog aren’t Pixar.

-I realize that but plain old Disney has been suffering the same fate as Pixar of late. I’d argue that except for Ralph breaks the internet Disney hasn’t released a quality animated film since big hero 6. I know tons of people love moana and Zootopia but I’m not one of them.

-They both are amazing in my opinion,but turning red is using pixars main trend so it can pull more views

-Soul was great

-Soul had wonderful jazz music I’ll give it that, but there was just so much spiritual mumbojumbo in it that it became kind of sacrilegious to me. Plus the whole thing was simply boring as heck too, so to me Soul fell flat on its face.

-“But here’s the difference. Turning Red ends, literally, with Mei walking out of the family temple to be with her friends—telling her mom, essentially, so long and don’t wait up. Meanwhile, Encanto ends with Mirabel at home—a home she’s helped rebuild. She’s with her family, all of whom (thanks to her frank talk) have both a renewed sense of who they are and a renewed energy to do the family, and the community, proud.”

So to sum up: we like the movie where the girl knows her place is in the home, not the one where she might leave to be her own independent person with a career and a life. This is disgusting.

-That’s not what they mean, and you probably know that. But I’ll explain. Mirabel is not staying in the home instead of claiming independence and life, she genuinely loves her family, and wants to stay. She helps to rebuild the relationships that have gone brittle and are cracking. One day she may choose to leave her Casita and family, but she will leave with a strong family bond that will allow her to maintain relationships with them. Whereas Mei is burning bridges that she will need one day, and she will struggle in finding her way through independence and life without them. Mirabel found independence at home, and that makes her stronger, while Mei is choosing independence without family, and without guidance. And while Mei may not need family, she will need guidance. That’s what they’re getting at. You see?

-For me Mei is not abandoning her family/responsibilities but striking a balance with her mom. She still happily helps at the temple but finds time to be with her friends, something she always neglected. Her father now covers for her when she leaves so he is also more involved in the temple.

-I think Paul’s biggest hang up with Turning Red is that Mei’s new balance seems tilted in favor of Mei being out in the world at an age when she might still need some parental guidance in navigating it. Don’t the me wrong. I liked the movie, and I related it to the point that I cried over it, but I will admit that the movie glossed over certain nuances. For example, $200 for a concert is totally outrageous even by today’s prices, and expecting your parents to shell out that much money just so you can indulge in your romantic fantasies is not reasonable. Not even her friend Miriam’s presumably more relaxed parents were okay with paying so much.

-Mei did not demand money from her parents. She and her friends worked to get the money.

-everyone likes independent girls, but come on. when your thirteen years old, you shouldn’t be having that type of attitude towards your own mother. at least in Encanto, Mirabel is sorry and doesn’t even want to pull away from her family or even disrespect them in any way, but in Turning Red, that movie is encouraging rebellion and lying- at that young age of 13!! Yes, a girl of that age should know her place in her home, but later in life when she grows older and matures more, she’ll get her chance to be her own (in your words) independent person with a career and a life. It’s not disgusting. What’s disgusting is that Pixar is promoting rebellion and “independence” at 13.

-To be fair though, it is not true that Mirabel always was obedient and respectful. She kept doing her investigations even after Abuela told her to stop it. And she also was the one, who had to tell her grandmother that the family suffered. She even said that Abuela was the reason why the miracle was dying. Which no one else in the family would have dared to do. And I don’t believe that comparing these stories is really fair anyway. Teenagers in two such different settings wouldn’t necessarily act the same way…

-i agree with your view on turning red, but, not a very convincing takeaway from encanto. the film is very latino, and family/community are very important. that is not a bad thing. mirabel helped her family accept they are allowed to have flaws, and that it’s okay to accept help from others. i think the issue is comparing them at all. they’re both sending good messages and should be allowed to be their own movie. neither is a standard. the lessons they teach can and should coexist.

-The point is Mirabel is still with her family while Mei is walking out not even slightly thinking about the challenges she’ll have to face in her future

-That wasn’t well worded. I think the difference for me is Mei is 13 and still a minor, a child.

There has been a strong message to undermine parental rights for some time. The push for a young teen to get birth control and/or an a proton. Yet my teen needs my consent for dental procedures.

I feel like this aspect of the movie is not by coincidence.

-*an abortion

Auto correct got me

-With respect, I find it really interesting that every single person I’ve seen throwing (in my opinion, confusing and unjustified) hate at Turning Red is a man. I’m a female who grew up in the same time period and I was struck hard by how relatable and poignant the movie was to me. Please consider broadening your horizons and attempting to relate to experiences that don’t closely mirror your own? If you can relate to a talking car, you can relate to Mei.

-As a girl who also grew up in the same time period, I totally understand relating to this movie. Some parts hit so hard that I actually cried. At the same time, I can see where Paul is coming from. I mean, he is watching these movies through the lens of a parent who is going to have to deal with the fallout of his/her children emulating the movies’ core messages. Besides, I don’t think he hates the movie. He just thinks that the movie’s message is favoring one ideal at the expense of an equally important one and that the imbalance could potentially steer kids and teenagers down the wrong path.

-I totally agree that Turning Red was a good movie. I think they might have been giving turning red in the comments shade to make Encanto shine more. Both movies send an amazing message! if you look for more nuance and serious movies you will think encanto is better if you like comedy you’ll like turning red better.

-We will remember Encanto. We’ll also say “What was that movie with the red panda?”

-I am a woman and I agree with this review completely. Today’s modern views and opinions are so worldly most Christians don’t even see that they themselves have been caught up in it. Things that God tells us is wrong the world says is right and vice versa. A 13 year old should not be treating her parents like that. All throughout the Bible God tells us it isn’t about us. Our lives aren’t ours or for our own glory but God’s. He condemns selfishness, lying and pride. Turning Red is so full of all three that just those three alone makes it a bad movie. Let’s also not forget the part of the Bible that tells children to obey their parents. That doesn’t mean they are to be drones but they are to respect them, and Mei does not. Just because mostly men are responding, or that is article was written by a man, doesn’t mean they are wrong. God has given them wisdom. But what it does mean is that you have lost your way and need to read God’s Word more. Don’t let the world fool you and turn you away from God’s love and guidance.

-I’m sorry but this is a really, really condescending response. Because I enjoyed a harmless kids’ movie and related to it, I’ve “lost my way and need to read God’s Word more”? Encanto is chock full of ungodly magic and what some would call witchcraft – just a short 15 years ago, PI probably would’ve condemned it; they were a lot harsher on movies back then – but if I’d said I preferred Encanto, you wouldn’t have admonished me to “read God’s Word more!” Something about planks in eyes and so forth.

-Why would the magic in “Encanto” necessarily be ungodly? There’s a lot of talk in this movie about “the miracle”. And that could mean that the magic ultimately came from God. Sure, it is never really explained how the miracle happened. But calling the whole thing “ungodly” is wrong.

-Criticism is not hatetred. It can come from hatetred, but often it is not. The news media and the internet amplifies criticism as the same thing as hatred to make you upset, so you click on click bait and they get ad revenue. Pluggedin is a decent website for movie reviews as they are not being paid to promote them. Do I think that male reviewers miss things? Yes, I do, but Pluggedin is at least a site that doesn’t say female characters that dress modestly are boring. I feel that Rose from the new Star Wars had to bear all the blame for the incongruent and unoriginal plot (if she’d worn a bikini she probably would have been lauded by fanboys as a powerful woman instead of being insulted so much that the actress was unfairly treated.)

-I didn’t really see a problem with Mei asserting her individuality over her mom, but then again, I kinda forgot for a little while that she was only 13. I’ve definitely gone through a stage of life where I made choices my parents wouldn’t have approved of, but that didn’t happen until I was over 18.

-Just to clarify, I wasn’t making any particularly destructive or irresponsible choices. I just started questioning things about myself that my parents weren’t willing to accept, like “Is this extremely prestigious career that I chose for myself unprompted as a child really what I want to be?” Considering that said career turned out to be a poor fit for me, I probably should have leaned into that question a lot more than I did at the time.

-Frankly a movie about a thirteen year old girl crushing on boys, getting her period, and turning into a giant red panda everytime she can’t control her emotions sounds like one of the worst ideas for a movie I’ve ever heard, and I’m not the only one. My 54 year old sister and 77 year old mother also thinks it sounds stupid and has no interest in seeing it either.

-Maybe if you watched it you’d realize it has nothing to do with a 13 year old girl getting her period.

Anyone who says it is didn’t actually watch it and don’t know what they’re talking about.

-Plugged in says that’s a big part of the movie along with other puberty related stuff and that alone makes me not wanna see it. It was cute in My Girl but in this movie it just seems icky, and this is coming from someone who grew up with two older sisters and a mom since my dad was only around until I was ten and then he quite literally disappeared for the next fifteen years or so until the social security office found him.

-If you have no interest in it, then why are you here?

-I haven’t seen Turning Red but have seen Encanto. The trailers for the former have turned me off of the film, mainly due to the rudeness and disregard for respect of the family. I have a 13 year old and I am concerned about the influence this film may have on her behavior. Encanto, on the other hand was and is a beautiful film with good influences that I am pleased about, that of helping others and helping family through this difficult life. I recognized in Encanto the truth that we are all blessed with various gifts from God and we are to use those gifts for the benefit of others. In Turning Red, I have yet to see any saving grace. It can be surmised that “going to a concert”can be replaced with “going to a party with friends” where often this leads to underage drinking, premarital sex, and other vices. No thanks Pixar.

-Love this article – Great insight and well written with heart ❤️

-this isn’t a great analysis of turning red, and it seems more like a slippery slope than genuine concern for teens. what we all wanted at that age is respect. that is what turning red is about. mei’s issues were always with how her mother treated her like a baby. she’s 13, she’s going through puberty, and she (aswell as many young girls out there) doesn’t want to be ashamed of it, or hide from her family who she is. her mom is hellbent on making sure she is still her innocent little baby who can do no harm, which adds a ton of pressure on mei, and causes interpersonal tension. i can’t see at all how you arrived to the conclusion that this is about letting kids doing whatever they want without supervision or guidance. this is more showing what happens when you refuse to give kids those things in favor of stuffing all the hard cringey stuff in a box (or in this case, a necklace). i urge you to give this movie another look. it’s very important in a lot of ways to youth, and parents. we all liked encanto, but it doesn’t have to be the *only* good movie. we can have both, and hopefully many more in the future.

-Yours is one of the most unbiased responses…there are maybe 3 or 4 references to Mei getting her period…and these were not very overt. We have to assume that her turning into a panda coincided with her period’s onset, as that is what Mei’s mother assumed the emergency was, when it was in reality because she turned into a panda.

Mei did not walk out on her family. She made it a point to have more balance in her life-with her family’s blessing and understanding. Nowhere did the film imply that it is ok to lie to your parents, pay $200 for a concert ticket, do something crazy to get money for said ticket, or disobey and go anyway. I saw it more as rebellion to the extreme, brought on partly by the repression and disregard of Mei as her own person with emerging wants needs and desires…and Mei had to learn lessons and consequences, but it also brought her family closer together…they too had to learn lessons and consequences.

I also do not think there is anything gained by comparing the two movies point for point. This it too simplistic and the author did not do a very good job in that regard. Also spare me the Christianity mumbo-jumbo. Many people in China are Buddhist. The oh-so-tolerant Christians…of themselves, but not of others.

Each movie should be looked at as its own theme and not tried to be boxed in what we should think it should be.

I am getting ready to watch Encanto. Saw Soul and loved it. Saw Sing 2 and loved it. It is easy to talk trash about someone’s ideas…how about making a more perfect movie instead!

-Didn’t read this article as I haven’t seen either movie yet but Disney owns Pixar so like who cares it’s all the same money making machine.

-Did…you not watch encanto all the way through though? Part of the whole message was that abuela NEEDED to trust her children/grand-children. So if you’re telling me that Mei’s mom was doing the wrong thing by letting her kid grow and experience the world in her own way and without constant supervision then it feels like you’re saying Mirabel was in the wrong? 🤷‍♀️

-I don’t think that’s what he’s saying at all. I think he’s just pointing out that Turning Red glosses over some of the nuances of changing family dynamics that come with growing up. Sure, growing up means needing more freedom to make your own choices and to explore, but it also demands growing in wisdom so that you make responsible choices. Turning Red kinda hammers home the first half of that sentence and glosses over the second half.

-I have seen Encanto, and I loved it that Mirabel is the one who keeps her family together, even though she has no “magic” powers and is not special. Since I am trying to be an artist, watch most Disney/Pixar/DreamWorks kids movies, and am a woman, part of me does make me want to see the Turning Red movie, but the reviews make it sound embarrassing. the trailer didn’t appeal to me. We should teach young girls to find strength and dignity in womanhood and not be ashamed of their bodies. I feel like for a long time Disney movies were telling kids to be comfortable with who they were, like Mulan, The Lion King (Simba has to learn for himself to throw off the false guilt from Scar), and Moana. I mean, there are parents that are bad but forbidding your child from attending one certain concert is not evil. Yes, maybe the parents are overreacting but encouraging teens to rebel instead of asking why first is not good advice. My mom had strict rules: the only pg-13 movies I was allowed to watch were Lord of the Rings and Left Behind. I had to skip Star Wars Episode III for years. She also banned any number of PG movies, such as The Incredibles (because the trailer made fun of the dad for being fat, and no, my mom was not fat.) But I respected her I did okay, and watching The Princess Bride, Spider-Man, HP, and National Treasure as an adult was so fun that I don’t believe I missed anything truly important in life by waiting. I feel I have learned more through this and that it’s okay to not do something just because everyone else is doing it. Although, not understanding sexual innuendo has been annoying sometimes (I was homeschooled.) Maybe I’ll see Turning Red when it comes to my library, I don’t know. Sometimes I like movies that the majority don’t like. Like, even though Captain Marvel’s powers are so strong that it impedes character growth in her movie, I connected with her way more than the playboy, billionaire Tony Stark we see in the first Iron Man. I mean, being a fan girl of a womanizer would feel weird to me, as a woman, although we did see Stark change later and it was awesome to see his love for his family in Endgame. Not that I’m a fan girl of Captain Marvel, per se, as Spider-Man is my favorite superhero and I only seem to find time to read one comic book series at a time.

-Why must you pit two beautiful multicultural stories against each other? They are both wonderful movies with great meaning. Your description of the ending scene makes it sound like you haven’t watched it: “telling her mom, essentially, so long and don’t wait up.” This isn’t what happens at all. Mei is depicted helping her mom rebuild the temple, but “taking some days off,” which every teenager deserves. And she certainly doesn’t leave her family behind for her friends. In fact, she is going out to karaoke with her friends for the afternoon but promises to be back for dinner. The ending scene displays her journey in balancing her individual identity and preferences with those of her family, and how that journey makes things better for everyone. I’d encourage you to examine more thoroughly your prejudices before you make comments on multicultural stories that you may not understand.

-Wow so much “ewww young girl getting period movie, nope”

Except it wasn’t about a young girl getting her period at all. If you watched it, you would know.

Didn’t anyone grow up and reach that point of coming of age needing to have personal space and be your own person? Seriously. So much ignorance in the comments.

-the evidence isn’t cool It has nothing to do with the fact that they think Encanto is better than turning red which I sorely disagree. Encanto is a movie about generations and trauma and people with powers/quirks there’s really nothing wrong with that. The fact that they’re trying to say it’s better it’s really not is about 97% equal the girl in turning red mei mei is a girl trying to get her mother’s approval like the girl in Encanto called Mirabelle. Maribel wants her Abuela to understand that she’s different. and so does mei mei . Encanto was WRONG for saying Bruno is bad *spoiler * bruno is good and loves his friends such as rats he lonely but that’s when Mirabelle comes into action . the truth is I love both of these movies equally they are great so stop trying to make them go against each other .

Very helpful article. Thank you.

-Late to the commenting party but I completely agree that Encanto did a much better job (and I will say Encanto wasn’t my all time favorite). I watched Turning Red a of days ago with several friends spanning from the age of 11-23. All of them aside from the 11 year old, everyone hated the story. There’s just too many moments were it was more uncomfortable (and not the good kind of uncomfortable) rather fun. My main problem is how I interpreted the panda. For the mom, the panda is horrible. When she was the panda, she was out of control. Why wouldn’t she want her daughter to get rid of the panda? It’s not a blessing. It’s a curse. It hurts people. When things like that are passed down from generation to generation, I can’t help but think of it in context of addiction, sin, alcoholism, destructive feelings etc. I’m pretty sure Pixar didn’t make the panda as a metaphor for generational curses, but that’s what I walked away thinking. Everyone in my friend group 17+ all agreed that for Pixar, they kind of already addressed everything in Luca but did it better.

It is interesting the subtle/not so subtle themes recently in Disney/Pixar movies…

Anyways, in the end it is just a movie and everyone is moved in different ways with movies. This was not one for me and my friends.

-It’s not even a real good comparison, it’s like comparing apples to oranges! You can’t say one is better than the other…its like saying the Hispanic culture is better than the American culture! Or saying Hispanic songs are better than American pop culture songs. This articles comparison of Disney movies just sounds racist if you really think and love Disney movies/music as the way passholders do!You can’t rate a Disney movie!

-I really don’t like the title of this article. But I get it, it’s to get people engaged and interested in your article. So great job on the writers part even though there are much more creative titles out there. I love both movies! I don’t think they need to be compared. I can relate to both! They both are beautifully articulated and deserve respect.

-How clown, Encanto even it’s not that great movie. People are to overhyping with this garbage movie. The strory, characters, plot, they are suck. It’s not whorth with they winning awards, people are to blind to see it. Even they don’t have plot to tell. How awful this movie is. One thing is good about this movie is just some good song, the rest of it is just meh and garbage.

-What a clwon, Encanto even it’s not that great movie. The characters, story, plot they are suck. People are to overhyping with this garbage movie, they are to blind to see how awful the movie is. It’s even don’t have a plot to tell. The movie is not whort with they winning awards. The good thing about this movie is a some good song, the rest of it just meh and garbage.

-My mom’s family were all missionaries or teachers which gave my mom a certain moral code which she of course passed on to me, so maybe that’s why I see things differently. All I know is that teenage disobedience, abortions, drugs, alcohol, premarital sex, worshipping other God’s but the one true God, etc. are all considered sins to me and should never be tolerated by anyone regardless of race or age. In general the world has become too tolerant of certain behaviors and from how I was raised all this stuff strays way too far from biblical principles, so I don’t agree with any of it and I’m sure my great uncle’s and aunt’s wouldn’t agree with it either if they were still alive.

-well to my honest opinion i think turning red is more exciting than encanto sorry if anyone els thought this movie is not good and encanto is sorry but i watched both of them and i liked turning red better.

-“ewwwww who need to talk about periods in the middle of the movie i mean i like it but to embarincing even for me. and encanto needs some work and all thats good is the songs thats it. wish they had more in encanto. turning red is just fine

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Opinions about watching the movie Encanto?

What do you guys think about watching this movie with kids as a Christian? I'm worried it might be demonic? Sorry if I come across as a helicopter parent, I'm really not, but tbh based off of the billboards I've seen, I'm not too sure about it?

THELMA (2024)

"don’t steal from grandma".

What You Need To Know:

Miscellaneous Immorality: Selfish behavior, dysfunctional family.

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THELMA is an extremely funny movie about a 93-year-old woman, Thelma, who’s been conned out of $10,000 and will do whatever it takes to get it back. Inspired by the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE movies, and supported by her grandson Daniel, along with her fellow senior citizen, Ben, “Grandma” goes on a mission. She fights for justice and peppers it with a little mercy. Lots of laughter ensue as she travels across L.A. in a motor scooter to catch the thief. There are a few obscenities and a strong profanity, so this isn’t a movie for children.

Thelma is the kind of grandma most people only dream of having. Her grandson, Daniel, is just as wonderful. The two have a fun and extraordinary relationship. Daniel shows her the ins and outs of the computer. Grandma shares her wisdom, with a great deal of “tangential” information.

Daniel’s overbearing parents, who lack trust in his abilities, pressure him to take care of Grandma and make sure she’s safe. Daniel loves Grandma with all his heart. However, he has troubles coping of his own.

Grandma will do anything for Daniel. She proves it when a scammer calls to tell her that her grandson’s in trouble. The only way he can be saved is if Thelma sends the conman, posing as a lawyer, $10,000. She unwittingly mails $10,000 cash to the crook.

When her daughter and son-in-law discover she’s been conned, they blame her inability to live an independent life. Thelma catches wind of their plans to send her to an assisted living facility.

Thelma visits an old friend, Ben, in senior living, and steals his motor scooter to go after the thief. It isn’t long before Ben hops on the back of his two-seater scooter to help his friend in need. So, the two end up cruising the streets of LA together to catch the thief.

Meanwhile, Thelma’s “helicopter” children are at loss as to where she could have gone. The logical scapegoat? Daniel. He “lost” his grandma. In a desperate attempt to feel secure, they put grandma’s security medic alert bracelet on Daniel. When grandma needs him most, will Daniel be able to escape the grip of his controlling parents?

THELMA is a fun movie that goes right to the heart. It has a very redemptive worldview. Thelma pursues justice, but she manages to show some mercy too. Christians believe that mercy is an important part of justice. However, we don’t really know this until we’ve experienced the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. Love and mercy are too often impossible for sinful human beings to give. This is one reason our savior, Jesus Christ, enters the world and shows us the way (and the truth and the life).

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‘A Sacrifice’ Review: Sadie Sink Joins the Cult Her Father Wants to Break Up in a Thriller with Better Questions Than Answers

Christian zilko.

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As a bestselling author, visiting professor, and expert in the field of social psychology, Ben knows a thing or two about how cults get started. But he’s not nearly as competent when it comes to the simpler — but not easier — task of keeping his family together. Years of disagreements about parenting ensured that his marriage ended in divorce, and he relocated to Europe with the hope that a little distance might help his broken family grow closer. It hasn’t exactly worked out that way, and by the time his teenage daughter Mazzy ( Sadie Sink ) shows up on his doorstep to spend a semester with him, she’s had plenty of time to reach the conclusion that her dad has completely and irreparably ruined her life.

The appeal of a group that makes little effort to hide its interest in suicide is a puzzling intellectual question — one that takes up so much of Ben’s time that he hardly notices that his daughter has started partying with a boy she met on the train. When Mazzy finally goes missing, Ben is forced to confront the possibility that his own focus on professional glory might have driven his daughter into the very group he was determined to stop.

Jordan Scott’s film , adapted from Nicholas Hogg’s novel “Tokyo Nobody” and produced by her father Ridley, isn’t quite as interesting as the towering questions that it asks. But the fact that it bothers to ask them at all puts the film in a rarified class above many of its Hollywood counterparts. At a certain point there’s only so much riffing you can do on the tension between secular humanism and our primordial thirst for the divine before you have to land the plane on a 94 minute father-daughter thriller. At least strong performances from Sink and Bana — along with sleek, noir-infused cinematography from Julie Kirkwood — make for a pleasant viewing experience even when the intellectualism comes up short.

A Vertical release, “A Sacrifice” opens in theaters on Friday, June 28.

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Disciples in the Moonlight

A reluctant leader heads up a team of 7 Christians intent on smuggling Bibles to underground churches in a future America where the Bible is illegal and danger is around every corner. A reluctant leader heads up a team of 7 Christians intent on smuggling Bibles to underground churches in a future America where the Bible is illegal and danger is around every corner. A reluctant leader heads up a team of 7 Christians intent on smuggling Bibles to underground churches in a future America where the Bible is illegal and danger is around every corner.

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• How long will Disciples in the Moonlight be? Powered by Alexa
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Hugh Grant Gets Creepy and Traps Two Young Mormon Missionaries in A24’s ‘Heretic’ Trailer

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Don’t take your faith for Granted. A24 has released the first trailer for its latest horror film “ Heretic ,” which stars Hugh Grant as a man who is visited by two young Mormon missionaries ( Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher ) who he then puts through an intense series of psychological games.

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Production on “Heretic” took place last fall in Vancouver during the SAG-AFTRA strike, with a guild-approved interim agreement. The cast also includes Elle McKinnon, River Codack, Carolyn Adair, Stephanie Lavigne and Elle Young. Along with Beck and Woods, producers include Katie Aquino, Scott Beck, Liliane Bedford, Julia Glausi, Kai Raka, Stacey Sher and Jeanette Volturno.

Grant’s made a habit out of playing villains in recent years, playing schemers in films like “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre,” “The Gentlemen” and “Paddington 2.” But he hasn’t led a horror film since his late-20s, when he starred in Ken Russell’s 1988 pagan barnburner “The Lair of the White Worm.”

Meanwhile, East is best known for her role in Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” and Thatcher is a main actor on Showtime’s “Yellowjackets.”

Watch the trailer for “Heretic” below.

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