Sarah S

Parents should know: There are very few scary scenes in this movie. There is only a small amount of violence depicted but it is more realistic (think knife at the end of Tangled). The short beforehand is almost more scary than the movie. There is one scene that is a little darker with lightning and a couple that allude to violence and death- but those will fly right over the little viewers. They absolutely pack a heartwrenching punch for the older viewers- as intended. (Think parent death scene in Frozen). Will the Madrigal family be able to save their enchanted house before it's too late? Will Mirabel be able to help even though she's feeling so isolated from her family?! Overall, Disney's Encanto movie is a beautiful tribute to the strength of community, loving family, and being true to yourself. It is a more STORY driven movie than a grand adventure movie (like Inside Out, Mary Poppins, and Luca), so it can be a little slower. The animation is so stunningly engaging and detailed. The music is fabulous, Lin-Manuel Miranda was a part of the team to bring the music to life and you can feel that Vivo/ In the Heights musical blend. It just all fits together SO well. And we loved seeing a movie about a Columbian family with some gorgeous cultural nods. There are also some very deep themes in this movie to discuss. We've got discussion questions and a fuller review on our blog- down the hobbit hole blog dot com. In a world that is trying to ban books from the classroom for possibly upsetting someone, this movie comes out with a powerful storyline that reminds us that kids absolutely can process the fact that people cause pain and that they (and we) can do better. So inspirational, so fun. Such a great watch. Personally I'm a fan of the dual theater and at home releases BUT I am glad I saw this one in theaters. A great new Disney movie just in time for the holidays!