Encanto

Fueled by colorful and crisply detailed animation, Encanto finds an agreeable balance between cheerfully celebrating cultural traditions and playfully tweaking them.

This breezy and innocuous coming-of-age saga uses a fresh Latinx lens to explore self-discovery, the importance of family, and embracing your heritage.

Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz) is part of the large Madrigal family, living in a lavish house in the mountains of Colombia that sprang magically from tragedy generations ago.

The teenager’s insecurity stems from the fact that she is apparently the only child not blessed by the house with a special gift or power. But why? As her supportive parents remind her: “Corazon, remember you have nothing to prove.”

Still, she’s treated as an outsider by some relatives including her grandmother (Maria Cecilia Botero), who is the guardian of the family history including the eternal flame that keeps the house and the family safe from harm.

After some haunting hallucinations, Mirabel becomes convinced that a secret lies beneath the idyllic surface, and discovering it is a chance to prove herself. Her subsequent journey reveals cracks in more than just the walls and fixtures that requires a different sort of foundation repair. Indeed, she might have uncovered a curse that threatens the future of the entire family.

While adults can appreciate the cultural perspective, kids from all backgrounds might identify with Mirabel’s desire to find her place in the world. And they’ll likely giggle at the quirky anthropomorphic mischief within the house, which is as vital a character as any.

The concept requires a certain buy-in with its reliance on folklore and whimsy — along with talk of visions, superstitions, and fate — without much grounding in reality.

The screenplay by Charise Castro Smith and Jared Bush (Moana), the latter of which co-directed the film with Byron Howard (Zootopia), avoids cheap stereotypes. However, it goes overboard with sentiment and introspection in an effort to justify Mirabel’s quest.

Meanwhile, the bilingual songs by “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda aren’t especially memorable, although they showcase a stellar voice cast and provide lyrical heft for some extravagant production numbers.

Despite its narrative flaws, Encanto generates some quietly powerful moments about second chances and the burden of expectations. The title roughly translates to “enchantment,” and this gently amusing and modestly touching fairy tale provides validation.

Rated PG, 99 minutes.