Above, four character posters from Disney’s latest animated feature. There could have been two dozen. So many characters tossed at us! (A ploy so you’ll buy a DVD in hope of finding a scorecard?) This made-from-scratch Columbian fable, if not quite the enchantment it’s meant to be, still ‘gives good weight’ following an enchanted family where each member is blessed with some special talent: strength; shape-shifting; weather. A gift from the earth gods after the family matriarch suffered a tragic loss a couple of generations back. Now, fruitful and much multiplied, something’s gone wrong with the miracle and ironically the only one able to track down the cause and save the day, is the one child in the family whose Gift Day came up empty in the special powers department. Why the poor girl even wears glasses! (A first for a Disney heroine.) Between the vivid South America color, spirited Lin-Manuel Miranda score and affectionately mismatched characters (what a range of types from a single bloodline!), there’s plenty to enjoy. Maybe too much. Aiming for inclusive, they wind up with busy, busy, busy; exhausting just to keep up with everyone. A bit more quiet time might have made the difference. (Hard to believe writer/directors Jared Bush & Byron Howard were in charge of the slow-paced comic burns that were the highlight of ZOOTOPIA/’16.) No doubt, multiple viewings and more familiarity with the dozens of characters would help. It’s how kids watch these things anyway. And superb vocal characterizations help. But grownups may feel once is enough. Likable & touching by the end, but too agitato and too colorful for its own good.
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: Disney first went to South America as part of the ‘Good Neighbor’ war effort for SALUDOS AMIGOS/’42, then visually let loose in its followup, THE THREE CABALLEROS/’44. An uneven ride (some live-action segments date it), but with blissed-out animated sequences between Donald Duck and his new S.A. pals. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2008/06/three-caballeros-1945.html
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