"The Matrix Resurrections" and "Encanto"

Here are some quick thoughts on some recent holiday streaming premieres…

There's no good reason for a fourth "Matrix" movie to exist, and co-writer/director Lana Wachowski is keenly aware of this.  "The Matrix Resurrections" is a strange, winding journey that starts out in a world where the original "Matrix" films were a video game series, created by Thomas "Neo" Anderson (Keanu Reeves), who subsequently had a mental breakdown and attempted suicide.  Now he's working on a new sequel for a Warner Brothers subsidiary, surrounded by sycophants, and constantly being distracted by an attractive mom (Carrie-Ann Moss) at the local cafe.  Significant chunks of the film acts as a metacommentary on living with the success of the original "Matrix" trilogy, and having to figure out a way to revisit it.  

This is not the only genre franchise film that has taken this approach, but it surprised me how much "Resurrections" digs into its examination of nostalgia, leans into the deja vu, and remains so self-aware about what it's doing.  Clips of the original film are used as flashes of Neo's memory throughout, similar to the way Danny Boyle's "Trainspotting" sequel incorporated bits of its original film.  There are scenes of writers discussing what made the trilogy special, and trading fan theories.  One character even has a nice rant on how "The Matrix" furthered along the blockbuster-fication of the movies.  Eventually the plot gets down to the business of chases and fights and gun battles, introducing new characters like Bugs (Jessica Henwick) and The Analyst (Neil Patrick Harris), and new versions of characters like Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and Agent Smith (Jonathan Groff).  Though the sequence of events is familiar, the universe gets updated considerably, checking in on old friends and showing how the status quo has changed during the long gap between films.

However, "Resurrections" keeps the story simple.  Neo wants to be with Trinity, and everything boils down to reconnecting the two of them.  Though it shows off a lot of fancy CGI and stunt work, this "Matrix" film is far less interested in set pieces and new effects technology.  Instead, all the narrative emphasis is put on Neo reorienting himself and learning to prioritize his feelings.  "Resurrections" is emphatically a love story, and how much you're invested in Neo and Trinity's relationship is going to determine how well the movie works for you.  Fortunately, Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss are as magnetic as ever, and I had no problem taking some improbable leaps with them.  Those "Matrix" fans more interested in the philosophical and visually bombastic elements of the series, however, may come away less satisfied with its "love conquers all" attitude.  

Now, Disney Animation's latest feature is "Encanto," a musical set in Colombia, with songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.  We're introduced to the magical Madrigal family, a clan of refugees who were granted a "miracle" long ago when they needed it most.  An enchanted haven, an "encanto" was created, along with a magical, sentient house, "Casita," for the family to inhabit, which became the cornerstone of a thriving new community.  Each Madrigal family member was also granted a superpower, their "gift" - all except for one granddaughter, Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz).  However, Mirabel is also the only one who seems to notice that cracks are forming in the house and the Madrigal family, and she decides to take the initiative and save the family's miracle.  

"Encanto" is packed full of detail and color and motion - maybe a little too full, because it's yet another animated film that I frequently wished would slow down long enough for me to appreciate more of it.  And Lin-Manuel Miranda's rapid-fire lyrical style sure doesn't help combat the sensory overload.  However, this is a film designed to be replayed over and over again, and I found myself being infected by the catchy earworms regardless of how I felt about the music or story.  As with all of Disney's recent films featuring under-represented cultures, like "Raya and the Last Dragon," and "Moana," "Encanto" is very carefully constructed to show the best of Colombia, adding bits of Spanish dialogue and references for Colombian viewers.  The specificity of using one country's culture instead of an amalgam of multiple places helps the creators' efforts feel more genuine. 

More importantly, "Encanto" has a stronger story than most.  Mirabel's struggle to be seen and appreciated in a family where everyone is special is very relatable.  The film explores all kinds of family issues, from sibling rivalries to intergenerational trauma to stifling performance pressure.  It's not just Mirabel who's struggling, but also the family matriarch, Alma (Maria Cecilia Botero), Mirabel's older sisters Luisa (Jessica Darrow) and Isabela (Diane Guerro), and her uncle Bruno (John Leguizamo), the black sheep of the family.  I found the ending a little iffy, and the rules of the miracle and the magic are vague at best, but "Encanto" is much more substantial and dramatically interesting than the usual hero quests of something like "Moana."  And I think it has a much better shot at becoming a Disney perennial.

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