A Lifetime of Happiness: Movies, TV, and Video Games

Encanto (2020)

March 30, 2022 Steve Bennet-Martin, Stephen Martin-Bennet, Dennis Quigley Season 1 Episode 113
A Lifetime of Happiness: Movies, TV, and Video Games
Encanto (2020)
Show Notes Transcript

The Steves welcome back Dennis Quigley to discuss Disney's 60th animated feature film and sleeper hit, Encanto, along with what's making them happy in pop culture today.

What's Making Us Happy?

  • Are You The One? (Netflix/Paramount+)
  • Smiggadoon (Apple TV+)

Encanto Topics

  • Music Lyrics Trivia
  • Names and Numbers behind the magic
  • Our favorite Madrigals
  • What magical power would you want?
  • Which Madrigal do you relate to most?
  • Why did "We Don't Talk About Bruno" become it's number 1 single?
  • Representation and how it matters
  • Transgenerational trauma


Ending- Any music or audio clips were borrowed from the original source material.

Support the show
Steve:

Hello, returning happys and new listeners. This is Steve Bennet-Martin, and this is

Stephen:

Stephen Martin Bennet. And welcome to a lifetime of happiness. The

Steve:

podcast where we take you on our journey through some of the movies, TV shows, and other bits of hub culture that are helping to keep us happy. We'll hopefully bring a smile to your face along the way. And today

Stephen:

we're going to talk about Bruno. No. Oh, whoa. As we covered the 20, 21 Disney sleeper hit and console with returning guest and friend of the show, Dennis quickly. Welcome back to us. Thank you guys

Dennis:

for

Steve:

having me. Yes. And Dennis, what's been making you happy since we last saw you. Oh

Dennis:

my goodness. Okay. In particular Coke, Starlight, you guys just witnessed that. Yes. Yes. I'm like the champion for random Coke flavors. And then these books that I read that are total garbage, but you should read them anyway. One is called kingdom of the wicked and one is called kingdom of the curse. And the next one is coming out in September, the end of the trilogy. They're stupid. And I love them.

Stephen:

What are they about?

Dennis:

They are about twin witches in Sicily in some nondescript 18th century, or maybe 19th century timeline. They're never very clear and one of them gets murdered. That's not a spoiler it's like on the first page. And then her sister sets out to find out what happened and, and there's like demons and princes of hell along the way. And a vampire and some other random stuff.

Steve:

They're garbage. Well, excellent. We always love some good garbage. I know that I've still been going through on MTV's. Are you the one absolute garbage? It was after watching love is blind. I was like, what other kinds of garbage matchmaking show can I watch? And Google said, try this one out. It's garbage too. And I said, yes, please. Yes. And so I've been enjoying that. We had season four on Netflix and then I w like, it was like, oh, I need something newer. Cause it ends up like Steven was Googling. And he's like, yeah, that was like from years and years ago. T yeah. So it ends up that the rest of them are on paramount plus. And so on season six right now. And it's just, they're garbage people and it's a garbage

Stephen:

and it's so interesting. Even the switch between season four, where there were definitely people that were there for the right reasons to find love. And I'm not watching all of season six with you, but I'm watching it. And it was like, most of these are garbage people. Like these are not that

Steve:

interested in finding their

Stephen:

match. No. Where season four was like, other than that one asshole

Steve:

ACEF John. Oh, John. Yeah.

Stephen:

And like, but everybody else seems to be totally like they were all good. And then in this season in season six, it's like. None of you care. One girl is there to cause drama. One guy is just there to sleep with everybody. Yeah. And I'm not a fan of this season.

Steve:

Yes. It'll be interesting though. Dr. Internet said that season eight is all sexually fluid people. So 11 guys and 11 girls, but you don't know who you're getting matched up with. So I'm excited to get to that because it

Stephen:

could be two guys, two girls, two

Steve:

girls, one cup who knows?

Stephen:

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Yes.

Steve:

That's for our family friendly episode. And what's been making you happy, Mila

Stephen:

shimmy, big a dune.

Steve:

Yes. In terms of music. Cause that's a musical

Stephen:

as well. Yes it is. So it is on apple TV plus it was six episodes. I don't know if there's going to be a season two yet. It ends where there could be more. Absolutely. It has an amazing cast between. And so it's done by the people that do SNL, starting with Lauren Michaels. And but it has a really great cast. It has Chenowith Keegan, Michael Kiel, Cecily strong, Fred Armisen, dove Cameron, Kristin Chenowith, Alan coming Martin short Aaron Tibet that we just saw in Moulin Rouge on Broadway. Jane Krakowski like, it's a really good cast, Jane

Dennis:

Krakowski and I just learned who dove Cameron is.

Steve:

Oh yeah. And it's like six episodes. They're all like half an hour long. So you can get done with it super quick. We flew through it and it was really fun. Yeah,

Stephen:

it was. And I just, I don't want to spoil anything, but it's happiness and it's a good time. So I suggest you watch it.

Steve:

Yes. And you know what? We will spoil. In combo. Yes. That's what we're talking about this week. And why did we choose in contour? I

Stephen:

love so this is magical March and there's nothing more magical than a whole magical, magical family.

Steve:

Yes. And what about the movie? Do you love Dennis? Where, when you heard we were covering it, you were like, I want to be on that episode. Wow.

Dennis:

Oh my gosh. I don't know the music and the story. It's just so cute. I cried. I cry at everything. No. So that's not a big deal, but, but yeah, I watched it the first time and I was like, oh yeah, this was cute. And then honestly, the song Bruno, we don't talk about Bruno got like in my head. So then I started listening to the soundtrack and then I was like, I need to rewatch the film. So I did. And I was like, oh my God, this, oh, great. How did I miss? Like the first time around? I thought it was just cute. And then I thought, no, it's amazing. Yeah.

Stephen:

I agree the second time. So I've seen it three times now and The second time I liked it even more. And then the third time we watched it with a critical eye for the podcast, but it's really good.

Steve:

Yes, it really is. And in content is Disney's 60th animated feature film. It's produced by Walt Disney animation studios. And it was released in theaters on November 24th, 2021.

Stephen:

So it had a budget of between 120 and 150 million, which is typical for their blockbuster musical cartoons. And while it's box office during its 30 day theatrical release was 246.5 million worldwide for 30 days. That's good. Yes. And it really went viral when it released on Disney plus on December 24th. Cause that's where we watched it.

Steve:

Yes, it is. Yeah. They just did it because of COVID. Yeah, they had a 30 day theatrical release. Made up its profits there. And then like through the internet, a storm and it came out on Christmas Eve.

Dennis:

I never even knew that it was in theaters. I had not heard of a word of it until I saw it pop up and Disney

Stephen:

plus. And honestly, I'm not sure also if if they've changed the rulings yet for Oscars, if streaming only movies can be considered because Disney, whenever they release a movie, like this always wins best animated feature. And so if they haven't like for several years there and it may still be now you had to be in theaters for at least X number of days, probably 30, probably 30 to be considered for a thing. So it, that may have been why they put it out at all

Dennis:

that maybe why the Aaron Sorkin film being the Ricardo's. It hit it was in the theaters, but for like five and a half minutes, and then they pulled it and put it on Amazon prime.

Stephen:

Exactly. And which was really good. Have you seen it? No, not yet. It's on my to watch list. I was severely impressed. I wasn't sure what I was going to think, but being the Ricardo's was very good. But back to Anne condo, yes, it

Steve:

was directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard from a screenplay and story that Jared Bush collaborated on with multiple others, including Shariece Castro Smith, Jason hand, Nancy Cruz, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Stephen:

Ah, Lin Manuel Miranda. We love him.

Steve:

Yes, he did the music. He wrote the music.

Stephen:

And now after seeing him do this, like he's also helping them revamp all the music for the live action. Little mermaid. I have a lot more faith in the live action. The little mermaid.

Steve:

Yeah. Jared Bush. Meanwhile was previously behind Zootopia and Moana while Byron was behind Baltz tangled and Zootopia.

Stephen:

Yvette Marino has her debut as a producer, having worked with Disney on hits, like big hero six in the past, further in the background with co-producer clerks, Spencer who previously produced Zootopia

Steve:

yes. In Zootopia while we enjoyed it. It definitely, I feel is one of the underlined underrated Disney movies as well. But it certainly isn't the magnificence and perfection that

Stephen:

this is no Zootopia is going to be one of Disney's cult classics. Yeah.

Steve:

Yes. It's certainly, well now the voices of the actors and actresses will be included in a very handy song in a bit, whether they're all introduced to, because they did a great job of introducing the characters of the movie in their very first songs. So tell them the film already is won the golden globe ACAT. Award for best animated feature film. And it's a favorite for the 94 academy awards that will air after this episode is recorded. But before it goes live, it's like tomorrow

Stephen:

night, tomorrow night. And what's interesting is tomorrow night during the academy awards, it will be the first ever live performance of we don't talk about Bruno. Oh, okay. I'm going to watch it. I know, because I was like all the actors from the movie on stage doing that. And I really, really want the actress who plays Dolores to do the little hip thing. Yeah, she does during Burnow.

Steve:

Yes. So future us will have already seen it by the time that this comes out. But yes, we'll be sure to talk about that maybe in what's making us happy next week. Sure. The soundtrack reached number one on both us and UK charts with, we don't talk about Bruno being the most successful song, topping charts for multiple. While surface pressure was also quite popular as was what else can I do? Yes, exactly. So let's get into the movie itself.

Stephen:

So the movie starts with a boy, Kayla telling a young Mirabelle about their family's miracle during an armed conflict. It forced Pedro and Alma magical young, married couple to flee their home village in Colombia with their infant trivial triplets Julietta paper and Bruno after Pedro sacrifices himself to the attackers, almost Kendall, miraculously attains, magical qualities blasting away the attackers and creating a Cynthia House known as like a SITA for the family to live in within an encounter, a magical realm bordered by high mountains and. I will say right now, I would love to live in Encanto. Just saying

Dennis:

I wouldn't mind it.

Steve:

Yes. I'd prefer not to have my loved one sacrificed, so armed forces to, to achieve it.

Stephen:

I would be okay. Being one of the normal villagers inside the

Steve:

Encanto. You don't need the special powers

Dennis:

you don't need,

Stephen:

you don't need them. But I mean, they'd be nice, but we can get to that later. Yes. Now

Steve:

when their children come of age, they open a door and receive magical gifts. We hear the story as Mira bells coming of age ceremony. We are promised by abuela that whatever gift Mirabelle receives will be just as precious as

Stephen:

she is. And now they use the phrase coming of age. But obviously you can see that the children are somewhere between like five and eight years old at the most.

Steve:

Yes. Well, hopefully it's just coming of age in a magical sense and not coming of age in a sexual sense. Definitely

Stephen:

magical. Yeah. Yes. Like, yeah. Can you read good to them? It's time for you to check your door.

Steve:

Yes. And w with this available leaves, the family received their gift for three reasons

Stephen:

to strengthen the family, to serve the community and to make the family proud.

Steve:

Yes. And so after the opening titles displayed, we fast forward 10 years later, as Mirabelle wakes up on the day of her cousins coming of age ceremony and sings, the family magical and gets to the. Yes. Well, it sounds a little bit like that, but what I really love about it is that it is a great way to really introduce all of the characters. Here's even a little clip of her introducing her sisters. I

Stephen:

can hear a pin drop the Mueller shame chips, and go on. You'll get this gift today. My oldest freeway at the Townsville while the beauty in the wrong I just, the, the music has the right beat it. Like it makes you feel good. It, it has a magical quality to bring happiness.

Dennis:

It is a, the music is really, really incredible. And we like in an animated films and musicals just in general music is really like the exposition. Right. So it's very important that they get all that stuff talked in there about who everyone is and what they do.

Stephen:

Yeah. Yeah. And it was a really good idea to partner with Lin Manuel Miranda, because anybody that has seen Hamilton knows if you want to get exposition in a song, he's the

Steve:

master at it. Yes. And it's, so it's sung by Mirabelle voiced by Stephanie Beatrice. She's our heroine. And we later learned she didn't receive a gift. Stephanie Beatrice is known for her role and Brooklyn nine, nine, and originally she was being considered for one of the roles of the sisters, because they didn't think she'd be as bubbly in person because she plays a much more reserved character in Brooklyn, nine, nine,

Stephen:

apparently. Well, and, and she does, and because she's kind of the more. Sarcastic. Yeah. And and when they showed like who it was, I was like, wait a minute. She's like 30. And she honest to goodness, sounds 14, 15 in the, in this that's hot, you know?

Steve:

Meanwhile though, the matriarch or the family is availa Alma voiced by Maria Cecilia. Botero she's the matriarch and she doesn't appear to have any powers besides being the head of the family and the keeper of the home.

Stephen:

And she seems to be a master of guilt.

Steve:

Yes. As any good grandmother is

Stephen:

now Pippa is voiced by Carolyn megaton. She is a boil, his first daughter and her mood affects the weather. She's married to Felix Madrigal who helps balance her mood. And he is voiced by Mauro Casteel.

Steve:

Yeah. And when I was going through this and I noticed the last name, I thought it was very funny. Yeah. You know, traditionally when a man marries a woman, the woman takes the last name, but maybe abuela does have a power of at all. And that's actually to beat up the patriarchy and be able to absorb them into her family rather than the other way around. I do love that when men marry into the family, they take the feminine name. I mean,

Stephen:

I would rather be known in a fam the Madrigal instead of like Smith.

Steve:

Yeah, exactly. Now we don't talk about Bruno abuela son, but we learned that he was a Precog who could see the future and disappeared one day. He's voiced by John Leguizamo's previously discussed in too long. Fu I love John

Stephen:

Leguizamo and he does a very good job in this part and I love, you know, we'll get to their song, but, you know, There's the misconception about what a Precog is, where they're all blaming him for things. And I'm like, honey, he's just telling you what's going to happen. He didn't make it happen. Now, Julio cheetah voiced by Angie Cepeda is mere Bell's mother and her gift is the ability to heal people through the food she cooks. She is married to Augustan, voiced by Wilmer Valderrama from that seventies show who keeps getting stung by bees throughout the movie and needing her healing. I love that couple. Like they do actually Peppa and Felix and Julio, Jetta and Augustan are so good together. Yes. Like those are like, you would call them couple

Dennis:

goals. Yeah. Yeah. They, yeah, they do very good. Yes. And if we want to talk about something hot, I kind of have a crush on Augustine. Yes.

Stephen:

What about him?

Steve:

Is it the big nose in the ear when he stung by the bees?

Dennis:

Yes, that's super sexy. I think he's got great features and he's just very caring and kind of bumbling the meaning. Well, and I just think it's so, he's so sweet.

Steve:

We've talked before about how, like, when we cover our Christmas prints, how cute it is to have somebody who's a little bit clumsy and Deloris is voiced by a DASA and she's Mira Bell's cousin, or has supernatural hearing.

Stephen:

And I also love that. Because she can hear so well. And really we work in with seniors. So, you know, whenever they can't hear well, they talk louder. Yeah. Because Dolores can hear so well. She barely talks about whisper the entire time. And I love that they added that in that she doesn't need to talk loud. So she probably doesn't understand how loud or soft she's actually talking

Steve:

now. Camilo can shape-shift into others and his voice by Renzi Felice, who we know from runaways. And I didn't get until I was like reading up on the movie, Camilo shapeshifter chameleon. Oh,

Dennis:

I didn't get that either. I didn't get that

Stephen:

either. Yep. Nope. Antonio is the one who is getting his gift today, which ends up being the ability to speak with AML. And he is voiced by Ravi Cabot. Conyers.

Steve:

Yes, Isabella is Maribel's oldest sister and is perfect and creates flowers and is voiced by Diane Guerrero.

Stephen:

Yep. And Louisa is Maribel's second oldest sister and has super strength. And she's voiced by Jessica Daro.

Steve:

Yes. And I love the song and there was going to be like, I think a couple of talking points we can get through there. But first I have to point out that after the song, the kids are brutal to Maribel. Yeah. If I was you, I would be really sad. Maybe your gift is being in denial. I mean, kids are the worst.

Dennis:

Hi kids also just, you actually speak the truth

Stephen:

and speak the truth. And I also love that the kids are all drinking coffee and there's. And when she's like, you need to calm down. There is not any possible way I can calm down right now. And that's why coffee is for adults. Except in Colombia. It's perfectly normal for children to have coffee with milk. Whenever I was working in a restaurant in Cincinnati they let their young daughter Rory have coffee plain because they were like, honestly, it's the sugar and things you put in the coffee. If it's bad, regular coffee is fine,

Dennis:

but don't, they know that coffee will stunt your growth. And I want to be five 11, like Cindy Crawford.

Stephen:

Okay. What was that from? Thank you. Yes. I was like, wait a minute. I know that quote

Steve:

now, Dennis, who's your favorite magic all and why? Oh

Dennis:

God. I w who do I like the best? I like Camilo a lot. I mean, he's, he's funny. He's a little, like a little prankster. I dunno, I enjoyed him and he's so sweet to his mom. You know, when she's not feeling well, he's bringing herself. Yeah. I

Steve:

think he's very sweet. Yeah. I agree in it. I like what they did with the character, because in the earlier drafts of the script, he was going to be written to be more of a, like an antihero or a rival to a Mirabelle, trying to like foil her plans and things like that. And I'm glad that they mix that in later drafts of the script so that we got like a really cohesive family unit. What about you, babe? Oh,

Stephen:

so for me, it's a toss up between the two sisters, whether it's Isabella's second act or Louisa in general, like I identify with both of some of their things. And one of the things I love about what Lisa is that she is like very much not a typical Disney princess. She stacked less mussels galore. And usually the Disney girls are very Isabella. Yes. I mean, even Mirabelle, isn't your typical. And I think they went that route with Mulana where like they were more real sized teen girls. And I appreciate

Dennis:

that. It's nice to see in these films, like the variety of body shapes and hair textures and skin tones. Yes.

Steve:

For sure. Yeah. I would say my favorite. I mean Maribel is certainly one of my favorite heroines in awhile for a Disney movie, but Lisa as well, it's just a really cool for what she does for representation as well as just her character. Agreed. I've also fallen in love with one who does someone, something very similar where they hold the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Stephen:

I have no idea who you're talking about.

Steve:

Yes. But beyond their characteristics, which magical has your favorite.

Dennis:

Oh I identify the most, so this would probably be my favorite with Louisa because she takes on more than she really can, and doesn't ever complain about it and just makes it work somehow. And I very much identify with

Stephen:

that. So I love, you know, with X-Men and everything. I've always been a big fan of mystique, so I love Camillo's perfect shape-shifting ability where the voice and everything matches too. So I love that, but I also love ISA bell. Like it's Florida. Yeah. It's harder to grow some things down here. I would love to be able to look outside, wave my arms and we have. Tropical paradise. Like I think that would be very cool.

Steve:

That would be very cool as would mind, which would be Antonio's gift of being able to talk to animals very much. You Remy can Remy can tell us how he is really thinking all the animals. I could be like the best vet assistant ever. It would be fun. Now, if you were a magical and you got to choose your power, I know that that's not how it works here, but if you could choose a superpower in line with what would work with, for the family, what would you pick?

Dennis:

Do I have to go with one of the ones that's already? No. Okay. So then invisibility, I would love that just to be able to kind of disappear from everyone for a while and do just, you know, like have that

Steve:

break. Yeah. And I can see that being like crunchy for like the, like, even in this where like a lot of the powers like to their personality, then like struggling with like, am I even there, if I'm not seeing.

Stephen:

You know me, I always want telekinesis just it's easy. That's what I always want if I could just, you know, but that would also be very helpful. I could help Louisa Roundup, the goats and things. I could help her move rocks with my mind, help her push the church. Like it would be useful.

Steve:

Yes. And one that's not already in the family and that's not already taken. I would say, I know it's close to controlling the weather, but I would love like the power of like fire and ice, like one on each hand and being able to do something with that with like both pyro and cryo Kinesis. Yup. Yes. And as everyone prepares for Antonio ceremony, we see how hard abuela is on Marybelle saying the best way for some of us to help us to step aside, let the rest of the family do what they do best AKA fuck off bitch.

Stephen:

Yeah. Not a big fan of the way abuela treats Maribel. And, you know, I, it, it immediately points a boil as the villain of the movie for me. And I honestly think that she is the way she is because in, and we see that she's pushing so hard because she thinks that the family has to go above and beyond. They can't just exist and they can't just be, they have to do all day every day for the community to earn the miracle. So I think that she's angry at Mirabelle all the time, because in her mind, Mirabelle is potentially destroying the miracle and would make. Her husband's sacrifice me nothing. If they ended up losing it all. Oh, see,

Dennis:

I, I mean, I don't think she's mad at Mirabelle in particular, but for whatever reason, the house casita didn't give Mirabelle at least a tangible gift. And so who is she going to be mad at? She has to direct her anger somewhere. So I don't think that she's mad or disappointed with Mirabel in particular, but she has nowhere else to direct that disappointment. Okay.

Stephen:

Well, here's something I also noticed. Nobody else in the house really talks to Caseta the way Mirabelle does. No. And so that's something I've always found interesting with w with watching it where I'm like, why is Mirabelle? The only one that really has a relationship has a relationship with the house

Dennis:

thoughts on that. But I do think we cover it later.

Steve:

Right? Well, as a,

Stephen:

what do you think about.

Steve:

I see, I think she a Mino bitch.

Stephen:

Do you have any reasons why you think she treats her that

Steve:

way? I mean, I, I think that it is not so much like it's directed at Marybelle, even though she doesn't mean for it to be it's, you know, triggering her right now, especially more than ever with Antonio ceremony coming up, knowing that the last one didn't fail and while it might not be her fault, she's the only one in the family without the power. She's the only one who can't help get things ready, sh and you know, with all the pressure to make sure everything goes perfectly. I can see just how, like, you know, my dad doesn't even like, have all this things and like one thing goes wrong with a family gathering. You think what a nuclear warhead might've gone off in the backyard with the way he throws temper tantrums. But I

Stephen:

also say, I know, and I was going to mention that because, you know, we've all helped with family gatherings, parties and all kinds of stuff. None of us have powers. Obviously Mirabelle is able to help set things up, whether it's getting the. Written together or carrying trays of food, like she is able to help. They're just making her feel shitty.

Steve:

Oh yeah. But like when I was getting ready for family gatherings in my house growing up, I mean, you've even seen a family gatherings as an adult. Like if like the meat is over cooked or, you know, someone forgets to put something in the oven at the time, all of a sudden he just like gets hot headed and pissy. So it's not a cute look for my dad. Laura Layla is a boy basic story, basically. Yes.

Stephen:

Now Antonio is so endearing from the beginning and I, cause I love when Mirabelle goes in and she's like, oh, I have this present for someone. And it's going to self-destruct in three seconds of three, two, and this little hand reaches out. And like everyone had been looking for him, but she was the only one that knew who he was. She's one of the few that looks outside of herself at all times. And, you know, he was hiding from the family and her pep-talk gets him to come out and get ready for the ceremony. And I love whenever it's his time to walk up to the door and, you know, Mirabelle has been pushed off to the side and he's like, I can't and holds out his hand and she walks him up there and a blameless, bitchy little face is immediately like, do not touch the new golden child.

Steve:

Yeah. And I think it's interesting. I, you know, at noticing that he gets the gift of a tie, like a stuffed tiger beforehand, I wonder how much of your personality before opening your door hints at what your gift can be or will be like, if it is tied to who you are that, you know, it just kind of brings that interesting question because like that you get him a tiger because it's just a stuffed animal and kids love tigers and it's just a coincidence. Or has he always had a natural affinity for him? Yeah. That would lead you to think that that's why he got that gift.

Stephen:

Was Holly Yetta always good at cooking did have a very changing personality. Was Camilo, always trying to entertain people like my

Dennis:

feeling about it is that the gifts are all allegories for things that are naturally occurring in different people, because you know, it, it, the house is kind of nurturing their natural abilities and enhancing them.

Steve:

Yes. And so once Antonio gets his gift, the whole family poses for a picture, with a boiler for claiming it is a perfect night, unintentionally, excluding Mirabelle, isle, leaving the celebration. She sings waiting on a miracle before having a premonition of Kasita cracking and the candle's flame flickering,

Stephen:

but a boiler ignores her warning when, and when a boil is like show me and she comes back and Kasita is undamaged. Even though we all saw the. And the flame flicker earlier and boil attempts to calm the village by saying there is nothing wrong with Casa magic of the magic is strong. And then later after hearing a boy of a praying narrow bell resolves that she will be the one to save the miracles magic.

Steve:

Yes. And speaking of Antonio getting his gifts, one of the very first things I saw about this movie online was the video that went viral of the two year old boy Kenzo, who looks just joking, but it was just showing how important reput representation is, which I know Dennis, you kind of were hinting on earlier. There's a lot of representation in this one Spanish family. And it would have been very easy for, you know, Disney of like maybe the 1990s to just paint everyone the same skin color and have the same type of accent. But you have a family that, you know, a rainbow of colors and diversity and shapes and sizes. And

Stephen:

that's the great thing is because Felix is black. And so by marrying into the Colombian family, you have the Afro-Colombian heritage, which gives you Felix, his hair. And I love that video of Kenzo where he's so excited. It's me, it's me on the TV. Like it warms your heart. And when we've seen it with kids watching black Panther or even little girls watching captain Marvel and some of the things like you get to all these underrepresented minorities, whether it's. Or people of color getting to see themselves on screen, on television, in movies. It's a big damn deal. Yeah. Yes.

Steve:

And also, I just really loved the song waiting on a miracle for the wonders it does from your rebels are a Maribel's characterization. I mean, here's a small clip of that. so here I go. Yeah. And I, I mean, I feel like, as she's saying, they're like, she's like sick of waiting for the miracle. Like everyone in the family gets this miracle. Everyone gets this gift and she doesn't have it yet. During our adolescents, I mean, magical family or not a lot of times with our insecurities, we often feel like everyone around us has a gift or a purpose or something special about them that you don't see inside yourself. You don't see what makes you magical. And I feel like, you know, that journey to discover when self transcends magic. Well, and that's

Stephen:

like growing up, Barry was great at golf and basketball, and he was celebrated for his sports and athletic ability, you know? And mom was so strong, leading different committees and things, and the family was well-liked and dad was so smart and I was like, and then there's me. And so I totally, what about your dentists?

Dennis:

I'm gonna sound like a jerk, but

Stephen:

you were Isabella in this situation. I

Dennis:

was Isabella because I was Al I always did really well in school. I didn't Excel at sports, but. You know, neither necessarily did my younger brother. So I was always the one that people saw and was like, oh, he's smart. He's well, put together. He handles himself well, so yeah.

Steve:

That's okay. We forgive you. Yeah. It's, it's, it's nice to have not gone through a phase in your adolescence where you didn't see something special about yourself. Cause mean,

Dennis:

and I still, I compare myself to my, my older sister all the time, because. You know, she was also smart and popular and did well in school. And she was in clubs and stuff. My brother has told me, like, since we've gotten older, that like, by the time he came along and teachers would be like, oh, I had your sister and your brother and blah, blah, blah. And he was just like, well, fuck that. Like, I'm not even trying. Yeah.

Stephen:

I did love later on whenever I had various teachers and they were like, I had your brother, you're a Metro better student than he is. And I was like year, like suck

Dennis:

at

Stephen:

sports abilities. So the next day, Mr. Bell talks to Louisa who confesses to feeling overwhelmed by her near constant obligations through the song surface. Or your sisters, all the heavy things we can't show, I can run with the two pressure, like, whoa, whoa. so, and she admit, I love that song by the way. And she had. That during Mira Bell's vision of the house cracking that she actually felt weak. And she suggests that you know, if Mirabelle wants to examine it further, she should go to Bruno's room in the forbidden tower in casita to see if she can explain the phenomenon. And Louisa goes from being, you know, generic, strong person to relatable character during the song. Since we can all know those feelings of being overwhelmed by the pressure put on us at times, whether that pressure is put on by ourselves

Steve:

or by our bitchy grandmother or

Stephen:

others or society in general, like, like surface pressure is probably my favorite song in the whole movie, because that was what I identified with growing up the most. Is, I need to be perfect. I need to be the straight a student. I need to be the star of the play. I need to be the shining example for the family. And then also my personality is going to be the one to hold up the family. I'll be the glue that keeps us all together, even if you're

Steve:

suffering in silence.

Stephen:

Exactly.

Dennis:

That's why, you know, earlier when I said, you know, I totally identified with Louisa and I talked about that actually, when we did the, when you did the full moon ceremony, like that was something I wanted to like go, it was like, what other people expect of me? Isn't my issue.

Stephen:

Right. And, and that is, that's the hardest thing to ever do is to let go of other people's expectations on us because what somebody else is expecting of us. Isn't our problem or ask

Dennis:

for help, even just sometimes, you know, like, oh, the days you were talking about like holidays or family gatherings, and every time we have a holiday and I'm like, okay, I gotta do this at nine. I got to do start this at 12. And I got to do this and I never asked someone like, Hey, could you just peel the potatoes

Stephen:

for me? Right. It's still a struggle with me if I'm going through anything to not just shoulder the burden myself or suffer in silence. Even after all these years of Steve, who I know would be there for me, because it's just what I know.

Steve:

Yes. Meanwhile, in Bruno's tower filled with lots of sand, thousands of stairs and a Latin vibe, Mirabelle discovers a cave and recovers pieces of a slab of opaque, Emerald glass that depicts an image of her just as the cave crumbles. She safely makes it out only to have Louisa fully break down in front of a Whaler that her powers are. And abuela, of course blames. Yes. So Maribel goes on to reassembling the graph, the glass while her family reminds her. Why Bruno is vilified with the song? We don't talk about Bruno. While she's reassembling the glass, it ends up depicting a picture of her standing unharmed in front of a broken Caseta surmising. She will destroy the family, but before we get that, we get this little bit of the song

Stephen:

Ah, so. As we were talking about before it's interesting that, you know, they're giving more power to Bruno's power than is actually there.

Steve:

Yeah. It's a matter of like, which came first, the prophecy or the thing that happens. And I feel like it, the thing that happens is what comes first. He sees what happens. You can't control it. You can't control the sure. Precogs

Stephen:

don't make things happen. They just tell you what going to happen. We see that with destiny and the X-Men things. And we see that here just because he told the woman, your fish is going to die. One of my

Steve:

favorite lines is dead.

Stephen:

And then you told me I'd get a gut. And they told me, I'd lose my hair. He didn't make those things happen. Were those too, like, was the gut a self fulfilling prophecy? Maybe he can't make you lose your hair though. And you can't make yourself lose your hair. He can't make your fish die. And. Now the whole thing with the rain, like there there's a discussion to be had there knowing that when she gets anxious, it will storm. And I know later looks like grain and him saying, you know, no matter what the weather is, your day will be perfect because it's you, but he didn't take into account how the flower waiting. Yeah. And then her fluctuating emotions.

Steve:

Yes. Now out of all of the songs on the soundtrack, this is probably one of the more plot heavy. Like if you don't know in condo, you listened to this song. You're like, I have no idea what I'm listening to. Why do you feel like it is the one that rose to the top of all the charts?

Dennis:

Gosh, I don't know. I mean, just the, in the very beginning, it's like immediately catchy with, you know, like how did they take his name Bruno and then it's no, no, no. You know, so it's like, they carry that on and it's just like immediately grabs your attention. And plus they comic relief told me my fish would die the next

Stephen:

day dead. And it really, and the beach is really good now. Something I also found interesting, so magical singers are known to sing broken into parts, different words at the same time, layered over top of each other, like they do with this song and their name is magical. So I thought that was interesting. This is also one of the few songs in the movie where the words are harder to understand. You kind of have to give it several listens and even, and every time you're listening, like the part you played, where everyone is singing their own part at exactly the same time. It's interesting. I never hear the same part standing out each time. It's different thing that I'm picking up on is I, I don't have a good reason why that. Was the one that jumped to the top of the charts other than it's

Steve:

yeah, I agree. Meanwhile, Mira Belle's dad finds a Maribel with the prophecy and says they can't tell anyone since Isabelle's engagement dinner with Mariana Goosmann, that night must go perfectly. Of course, who hears them? Dolores? Yes. And over dinner begins to pass it along.

Stephen:

Oh, I do love when they're like and nobody else, but heard it. Yes.

Steve:

She hears everything come on. Yeah. Tensions are rising high as Mariana prepares to propose to Isabel with playing it like an instrument. The Kasita begins to crack again. And the prophecy is revealed ruining the night and Mariano's proposal as Peppa, inadvertently conjures a downpour, even with all of this going on, abuela's in denial, promising the town's folk that everything including their magic is perfectly.

Stephen:

Oh, so, you know, we've got this forced marriage on Louisa to strengthen the family ties. What do you think of that in general? Because we don't know what time period this is existing in, but we also know to this day there are still arranged marriages that.

Steve:

Gone. Yeah. And this, it doesn't feel as, I mean, they live in a small town, so I'm assuming that she's seen Mariano and like, has known about him growing up. It'd be very hard to be completely ignorant to his presence. So it doesn't feel so much as like a blind arranged marriage, as much as it does like a matchmaking process. Not like it's that big of a difference, but like at least she knows him and like, technically she could have said like, no, at any point in time, she probably didn't want to face scary grandma over.

Stephen:

I, but I, I would say that I don't think she can say no because they have lived in the situation that what abuela says goes, and the boil is saying, you're going to marry Mattaliano for the family and Canto for the matter of course, they feel

Dennis:

the obligation to keep that. Miracle going and keep it strong. And I think, you know, with Lisa she's described throughout the movie as the perfect one and Mariano, I mean, he's pretty good looking guy, you know, and seems pretty nice, actually, I guess. So they're probably like the two, you know, the two perfect ones from each of their families, respectively, and they're being pushed together because of that. Like they're gonna then create perfect

Steve:

children. Yeah. And I mean, did you realize the first time through that Mariana was the man in Bruno's vision about Dolores's true. Love the truth to another?

Stephen:

I did not. I was following things and trying to watch it all through and I didn't pick up on it because once, you

Steve:

know, it's like thrown in your face to the point where like, they, like, she says, like the betrothed to another and then like in the song, Buela is then like Marianna was diagnosed. Yeah.

Dennis:

Yeah. I immediately latched onto it if only because he's the only non, you know, Really like the only towns folk that we see that has given a specific name or, or role in the movie. So it's like, this guy is more than just, you know, the guy they're trying to push on Louisa. So like he's involved

Steve:

somewhere else somehow. Yeah. Now as everyone flees, the cast Mirabelle follows a group of rats and discovers a secret passage behind a portrait where she finds Bruno. He reveals that he broke the vision to avoid hitting the rebel against the family since they wouldn't understand and exiled himself within the walls to remain nearby.

Stephen:

And he's also been repairing the cracks from the inside out the whole time, even though he says. Wearing a bucket on his head.

Steve:

Yes. At Mira Bell's urging, he reluctantly conjures another vision, which initially resembles the previous one, but a golden butterfly then appears causing the vision to show her embracing Isabella instead, Bella, Bella. And she's not very happy about that, but yeah. When you were talking before about how prophecies are always tricky just not like in fiction, but in real life. I mean, remember all the paranoia about Y T K O

Stephen:

oh, I remember that. You know, like, oh, you have to update your computer thing and oh, you need to make sure that the data's changed. So it's a four year date, not a two year date, because if it goes to zero, zero, it's going to think it's 1900, not 2000.

Steve:

Yeah. Or the Mayan calendar ending. Oh,

Stephen:

I remember that. That was 2012

Dennis:

disappointing moment of my

Steve:

life. I was going to say, I haven't heard about like the end of the world happening recently. I mean, we see it all around us, but like I haven't heard any sort of like prophecies like that since like for a while, but I remember growing up, like, I feel like every year Nostradamus had other end of the world

Stephen:

and like, yeah. And then, but like 2012 was the last one that everyone was kind of like waiting for, because that was the end of the Mayan calendar. And I'm like, I think they just stopped making them. I think they were like, I can't, I can't get a Melrose place calendar anymore. Either people

Steve:

a

Dennis:

little different. I was expecting to never grow old. And here we are 10 years

Stephen:

later, I thought you had that painting in your attic. That was slowly just deteriorating. No one knows about

Dennis:

that.

Steve:

Yes. So in an effort to fulfill the prophecy,

Stephen:

There is another question there that we didn't talk about now, do you believe that there are people that can tell the future? Yes I do too. Yes. I mean the, especially the people that I've seen in the last year be able to do the tarot cards.

Steve:

Yeah. I was going to say, I might not always be as clear, but I can certainly see it being as misunderstood as Bruno's visions.

Stephen:

Yeah. Yeah. Because there's definitely things like our friend's sky. Yeah. She's quite good. And she'll be like pointing at things and she's like, you know, this is, you know, there's something coming up in the next two months with your work. You need to be a worry of it and blah, blah, blah. So, I mean, it's not as clear cut as Bruno's visions, but I think that there are people out there that can get visions of what could come to pass. Yeah. I agree.

Steve:

Now Mirabelle and reluctantly apologized, Isabelle who abruptly confesses that she does not want to marry. Mariano was only doing it for the family and is burdened by her image of perfection in her confession and frustration. She makes a cactus, which is the first for her making her realize that not everything she creates has to be traditionally beautiful and perfect. She then performs, what else can I do? And then they embrace strengthening the candle and healing the cracks with this

Stephen:

can I do. I also love that song because not only is it finally, you know, accepting the pressure of being perfect and realizing that once you stopped doing that, that the whole world opens up and that maybe living authentically, it has a lot more opportunity for you than just trying to be perfect.

Steve:

Yeah. I mean, I, I feel like you don't need to be making flowers happen, to relate to the idea of like, you know, I don't need to be perfect. Like I just want something true. I feel like so many times we all strive for perfectionism where a lot of us do. Like, I, I know I do. That's what part of like, led to. A lot of my struggles with addiction and things like that was just like the whole like, need to be perfect at all times. And just that pressure, you can't be perfect at all times. Cause there's no such thing.

Dennis:

Yeah. I definitely agree. There is an, I mean it's the same as, as Louisa has, you know, she's always struggling with her gifts and you see Isabella is too you think, and you see people who seem to have it all together and maybe, you know, always things turn out well for them at work or at school or whatever, but really like the pressure and that they're putting on themselves to be perfect and maybe live someone, you know, obviously Isabella is trying to live someone else's dream. And it's like, it always reminds me, it reminds me of people whose like, parents are like, you're going to be a doctor. You're going to be a doctor or you're going to be doctor. And then suddenly they're like, oh wait, I'm good at painting. And it's like so much more fun. So

Steve:

yeah. Yeah. Now almost sees the pear and accuses Mirabelle of causing the family's misfortunes out of spite for having no. Mirabelle and turn blames Alma for over pressuring the family saying I will

never

Stephen:

be good enough, no matter how hard I try you are the one breaking our home. The miracle was dying because of

Steve:

you. Yes, there are rising argument. Weekends, the candle, again, creating a Fisher that splits in nearby mountain and demolishes the casita, but the house using the last of his power to save Mirabelle and it's collapsed. Despite her efforts, the candle burns out in her hands. While the now powerless magicals assess the damage. A guilt ridden Mirabelle leaves the town. Oh,

Stephen:

that was, you know, obviously we're on Mirabelle side with all this.

Steve:

We've already talked about our theories about why a boil is a mean old bitch, but apparently the fancy word for it is transgenerational trauma. And that's defined as when the collective trauma experienced by a group of people as twisted and imposed on future generation. This is traditionally seen across to sentence of refugees, enslaved people and survivors of genocide, where generations later, the family will still live in fear or pain from the past generations experiences. So we do see that now. I mean, African-American people struggling from like slavery generations later where they don't have any memory of it, but they know that it happened to their family, to their people

Stephen:

and the, the Jewish population post-Holocaust and people trying to deny the Holocaust. And they're like, my grandmother was in Auschwitz type of thing. You're like, yeah. And I'm

Dennis:

sure in, in decades to come you know, Muslim children growing up are going to be facing the same thing. And and Chinese and, and, and I mean, not even just Chinese, but Asian people in general because people are so like, they just consider everything. Asian is like one lump group, right. With COVID. Oh, there was so much Asian, Hey, crime hap crimes happening that like that's going to be continuing on. So

Steve:

yeah. Yeah. Now after several hours almost finds a tearful Mirabelle back at the river where Pedro diet and explains how determined to preserve the magic. She ignored the toll, her expectations were taking on her family and finally accepts responsibility for what happened after hearing almost tragic backstory over the song dose or a good test. Mirabelle tells her that despite her flaws, she has United and protected the family all these years. And they reconcile as a golden butterfly flies past go to

Stephen:

a butterfly. Yeah. Oh, and you know, and it's, it's that moment where a boil is like accepting responsibility saying that she did push the family too hard, that she lost sight of what the miracle meant and what it was for that. The pressure she was putting on, especially Louisa, most of all, I think like Louisa had to be in service from the time she finished breakfast till the time the sun went down. That's not fair.

Steve:

No, and Bruno arrives knowing that grandma's a bitch to confront her and defend Mirabelle, but unexpectedly cheers her up with his return. She embraces him and the magicals all re like reunite over the song. All of you when even the townsfolk come and help out and you would love it when everyone works together. I love

Dennis:

this song, honestly. It's probably one of my favorite ones. My second

Stephen:

favorite. Yeah. It's so good. when we work as a team. You're so strong times, like strong mode of getting wiser oh, that one, like, thanks to Mirabel like so much healing is happening in that family. And I have to wonder also, if a boy, Kayla, hadn't been doing what she'd been doing for the past 10 years with the sisters have been closer. I

Steve:

think so. For sure. Probably.

Dennis:

Yeah. I mean, I do understand a Willa in the terms that she lost her husband. Then she, you know, she ends up losing her son or they thought they lost him, you know? So they're like pressure to keep everyone together with this miracle, you know, but it did harm them more than

Steve:

she realized. Yeah. And I mean, finally the magical has give me a rebel, a new door knob in grid with an M representing both the entire family and her individually. She attaches it to the front door, which restores the magic of the Kasita, the family and the entire Encanto. They celebrate with the family showing off their powers are back ending with another group picture where Mirabelle and Bruno are now in and Mirabelle is front and center. The end. So what'd you think on the

Stephen:

ending? I, I thought the ending was perfect. It was the amount of story, the amount of trauma, the amount of healing that all took place in like two hours. Bravo to Disney for fitting that all in because it doesn't feel rushed. It all feels earned. Yes. Like it was really well done.

Steve:

It certainly is. Dennis, what are your final thoughts on the ending and the movie?

Dennis:

I adored the ending, especially, I love that the towns, people come and they kind of say like, Hey, we're here together. Like you don't have to take care of us all the time. We'll help take care of you. And I mean, I don't know, we didn't get to this. Right. But like my interpretation of Maribel's. Is that she does have a gift. It's just not as tangible as the others, because she's the only one she sees the cracks in the Kasita first. She sees what everyone is there, the pressure they're under the hurt and the damage. And so she's like, and obviously she wears glasses and that's a very telling symbol. Like she can't see well physically, but, you know, she has other, yeah. And so her ability is like to see the, the, the truth and like the hurt and everything and people and help them

Steve:

heal. Yeah. And similarly, I mean like a boil is ahead of the family, even though she isn't, you know, doesn't have any powers that are tangible as well. She's also not going to last forever. I feel like it's also like her power is to be the next matriarch of the entire family.

Stephen:

Especially like I mentioned earlier, she's the only one that really interacts with the magic of the house. Yeah.

Dennis:

And I think that's in part because she sees maybe more of it

Stephen:

than others because you don't really see. In like there's the scene where fully out to made the food and the house brought it over to Mira bell. Like it's not doing that for everybody else. It's like whenever Mirabelle had to go and sit by grandma, the chair moved her, like it's not doing it for everybody else right

Steve:

now. I also last minute added something, a little fun that we can do with the soundtrack being. So well-known and so well-liked, I made a little trivia game where I'm going to put the two of you against each other to see which one of you noticed the movie and the soundtrack better? No.

Stephen:

Okay.

Steve:

And so starting off what is dos or we test translate it to an English two butterflies or caterpillars? Yes. One for Dennis. I was expecting that one to be a given for you baby with your Spanish. I actually

Stephen:

had no idea

Steve:

during, we don't talk about Bruno. What does Delores associate Bruno with? Yes,

Stephen:

the mumbling and the rats in the walls don't have to sound to falling sands. Oh, that's right. Which rich,

Steve:

Often seen in the first act of musicals. What kind of song is waiting on a miracle? The latest example of in Disney movies? I wish

Stephen:

song, yes.

Dennis:

I did not know that one.

Stephen:

Yeah. So that started with little shop of horrors with the song somewhere that's screen and the same guy who wrote that also did the music for the little mermaid with the I want to be where the people are. And then, yeah. So that started all the princesses, having the Irish songs. Yes.

Steve:

Now in the family magical. What does abuela say? Keeps the miracle candle burning,

Dennis:

Work in dedication. Yes. I was like singing in my head

Steve:

and surface pressure. What two minerals does? Louis' say she finds and flattens

Stephen:

platinum and diamonds.

Steve:

Yes. And what else can I do? What does Isabella say? She can grow by the mile rows and

Stephen:

rows of roses now

Dennis:

floated myo.

Stephen:

Yes.

Steve:

And I mean, Dennis wins, but there is one more. So I'll just finish by the end of all of you are Marianna and Delores engaged?

Stephen:

No, she says

Steve:

calm down. Yes. She actually says slow down, but yes. So with that, Dennis wins four to three. Good job. And listeners, I hope that you had fun playing along and checking out this episode of a lifetime of happiness. Thank you, Dennis, for being back on, it's always a pleasure to have

Stephen:

de

Steve:

nada. Yes. And we would love to hear your thoughts on Encanto or, you know, just say hi to us. You can do that always by emailing us@happylifepodatgmail.com.

Stephen:

Yeah. Yeah. Or you can get in touch with us on all the socials, whether that is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Tik TOK at happy life

Steve:

pod. Yes. And until next time everyone, we

Stephen:

don't talk about Bruno. No, and

Steve:

we just spent like a whole hour talking about Bruno. Clearly we can, but yes. How about

Stephen:

we just stay

Steve:

happy?