Disney is getting ready to pull out all the stops on Encanto, its latest attempt to take over the box office and have your kid nieces singing the same song over and over.
Fortunately, this one looks like a good time. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 60th production is set in Colombia, where a family with extraordinary abilities finds their magical house falling apart and their least extraordinary member is called upon to save the day. That sounds like a pretty straightforward Disney story (Moana followed a version of the same narrative) but this one is boosted by some original tunes from Lin-Manuel Miranda (which, hey, so was Moana).
But the real thrill of a new Disney animated feature has always been the spectacular new world being introduced and Encanto certainly looks like it delivers on that front. From a bevy of new animals friends to a house with a mind of its own, Disney’s transportive film magic spells appear to be humming smoothly here. Also, we’ve got a lead vocal performance from Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Stephanie Beatriz. We’ll also hear from Wilmer Valderrama (Fez from That ’70s Show), Diane Guerrero (Orange Is the New Black) and the great John Leguizamo.
We’ll see how it all sorts out on Thanksgiving.
