JP Nunez
A few months ago, I wrote an article about the trailer for Pixar’s new movie Luca, and I said that a huge part of my excitement for the film came from my Italian heritage. I was looking forward to seeing that part of me represented on the big screen. And now, with the release of the first trailer for Encanto, I can look forward to a movie that speaks to the other side of my heritage. As you can probably tell from my last name, I’m also Hispanic, and this movie appeals to me in ways that few other American films can. Here’s the plot synopsis:
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.
This trailer has just about everything I could ask for, and I couldn’t be more pleased with it. Even though we only get a glimpse of this world, Encanto looks just as authentic as we’ve come to expect in our multicultural day and age. Admittedly, I’m not Colombian (I’m Dominican), so I can’t say how authentically Colombian it is, but I can say that it nails some important elements that are pretty universal in Hispanic culture. For example, the music is right, the festive atmosphere is totally on point, and it looks like the Madrigals are as tight-knit as any family in Latin America.
It really warms my heart to see my family’s culture done right on the big screen, but my love for this trailer doesn’t stop there. Encanto also looks like a cool, almost superhero-esque fantasy story, and if you’ve read any of my other trailer of the week articles, you probably know that superheroes and fantasy are two of my absolute favorite genres. Sure, we don’t know exactly how those elements are going to play out in the movie, but just knowing they’re there is enough to get me on board.
And finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the humor. There’s not a ton of dialogue in this trailer, but the little bit we do get is pretty funny. I especially liked the line at the end where a little girl suggests that Mirabel’s gift is “being in denial.” I literally laughed out loud the first time I heard that, and I’m hoping the rest of the movie hits my funny bone just as hard.
All in all, Encanto looks like a really fun ride with heart, humor, and a generous helping of authentic Latin American flavor. It’s scheduled to hit theaters on November 24, and I can’t wait to find out if it lives up to the promise of its trailer.
So what do you think of the trailer for Encanto? Do you agree with JP that the film looks like a fun, authentically Latin American fantasy ride? Let us know in the comments! And if you’re looking for horror trailers we’ve got you covered!
