Is Netflix’s new children’s movie, ‘Spellbound’, worth watching?

Netflix has just released a new animated children’s film with some pretty big names in the form of Enchantedwhich has risen to instantly be the #2 most watched movie on the service. But is it actually worth seeing?

If I had to do a yes/no, the answer seems to be…probably not, and there are much better kids’ movies on the service. The film stars Rachel Zegler and Nicole Kidman, but reviews are not very good. It has a 44% on it Rotten tomatoes from critics, and while its 67% from audiences is better, it’s still quite low compared to many higher-profile children’s films. Here is the synopsis of the film:

“Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the headstrong young daughter of the rulers of Lumbria, who embarks on a daring journey to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell turns her parents into monsters.”

It sounds quite a bit like the plot of Pixar’s Brave, though probably with some different twists. The film is directed by Vicky Jenson who has some amazing films under his belt. She directed Shark Tale in 2004 and the original Shrek in 2001. But of course, that was 20 years ago, and this new venture for Netflix doesn’t exactly look set to become a classic. Here’s what some of the critics are saying:

• The gate – “Spellbound goes from blank screen to total train wreck in record time. Why? Because there is absolutely no first act to Spellbound. No.”
• Guardian “It’s not quite Cocomelon, but it exists in a completely different universe far, far away from the many Disney movies it tries to file alongside.”
• RogerEbert.com – “A largely forgettable venture that families will watch over the Thanksgiving break before the Netflix algorithm buries it forever.”

Here’s a more positive one for balance:

• IndieWire – “Cute, creative set pieces do wonders to keep the story moving, as do the wealth of new songs that cement this as a musical with a capital M.”

I’d almost consider watching just to hear some new Rachel Zegler numbers (I just saw her live on Broadway in Romeo and Juliet and she was phenomenal), but the truth is there are dozens of much better children’s movies to watch on Netflix itself, and of course if you have a Disney Plus subscription. Maybe it’s something new, I suppose, so you don’t have to watch the Minions movie for the 43rd time, but it seems like this could have gone a lot better.

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