Encanto is a better movie that deserved better than its release circumstances provided to it. Fortunately, Disney movies take on a life of their own, and my guess is that more people enjoyed this one at home than did in the theaters.

When it debuted in November 2021, it took the #1 spot but with only $27M in the box office. (By contrast, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 collected $71M in its debut). Its staying power kept it in the Top 10 for more than a month, even through the busy Christmas releases, so that's a testament to its appeal. Fortunately, the movie plays very well at home as well, which is where I'm sure plenty of streaming time has been clocked in many households.

The story line is solid, and repeated viewings actually helps one to appreciate them, which is usually not the case with most mainstream movies. It does have a familiar story of a young girl with lots of internal fortitude and charm embarking on an adventure to save her family/village from destruction, turmoil, or other danger.

The songs are catchy and no doubt part of the movie's appeal. Young children everywhere are in clear violation of the song about not talking about Bruno, but that's exactly what the filmmakers likely wanted.

Speaking of those songs, there has never been a Disney movie that reminded me so much of the High School Musical movies. You can imagine Troy Bolton singing one of the power ballads, while Gabriella belts her own heartfelt solo in another. I've got a feeling some of the songwriters might have grown up in the 2000s...

Encanto is one of those movies that can be enjoyed multiple times, and may actually require multiple viewings to fully appreciate. Fair warning, however, once those songs get stuck in your head, it may take quite some time to remove them from your subconscious.