Movie review
October 13, 2021 · 102 min · PG
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Encanto follows a magical Colombian family where every kid gets a special gift except Mirabel, who ends up saving the day by figuring out her own value. The whole story is about family pressure, generational trauma from the past, and learning you don’t need powers to matter. It puts strong Colombian culture and a full Latino voice cast front and center, with marketing and interviews hammering home the representation angle. No lectures or political speeches, just family drama wrapped in bright songs and visuals that make the diversity the standout feature.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Encanto.
Woke representation / casting
Strong, visible emphasis on Colombian/Latine casting, character designs, and cultural details that are central to the film’s appeal and marketing.
Woke political dialogue
Completely absent; no activist speeches or ideological lines.
Identity-driven story themes
Recurring personal/family identity and self-worth arcs drive the emotional engine but stay universal rather than activist.
Western institutional / cultural critique
None; Colombian culture and family bonds are celebrated without attacks on traditions.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Fringe, low-level online gripes about pandering; no significant or sustained backlash claiming forced identity politics.
Creator track record context
Bush’s prior Disney work and Castro Smith’s milestone role provide moderate supporting context for representation focus.
Production
