Descendants: Wicked Wonderland defies destiny on Disney Channel. The film saga, famous for twisting the legacy of Disney’s classic heroes and villains, lives to tell another tale worth listening and dancing to.
The second entry in the Pocket Watch trilogy picks up immediately where The Rise of Red left off. Red (Kylie Cantrall) and Chloe Charming (Malia Baker) adjust to their new timeline following their mission to the past to fix the present. Now, Red has a loving mother with no bad side, Bridgette/the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora), and a little sister who suddenly exists named Pink (Liamani). However, not everything is sunshine and rainbows in Auradon. The girls get a rude awakening when they realize solving problems with time travel only creates more problems: Maddox Hatter (Leonardo Nam).
After he captures the Queen of Hearts, Red and Chloe must team up with Pink, Hazel Hook (Kiara Romero), Luis Madrigal (Alexandro Byrd), Max Hatter (Brendon Tremblay), and more unlikely allies to go to Wonderland and stop him.
Between Zombies and Descendants, the latter remains undefeated as Disney Channel’s number one musical franchise since High School Musical. Wicked Wonderland has the makings of a crowd-pleaser with a fun plot, spellbinding visuals, and dynamic musical numbers. Cantrall and Baker bring this world to life, harmonizing night and day with their contrasting, yet complementary lights. Supporting cast members, especially newcomers, complete the ensemble, proving themselves more than capable of holding their own.
Figuring out Descendants: Wicked Wonderland together
Although Wicked Wonderland is the second movie in the second Descendants trilogy and fifth in the franchise overall, it is the first in a new timeline. Do not be overwhelmed by these continuity gymnastics, which Marvel and DC productions are known for. Once you can recall the events of The Rise of Red, you are fine. This movie is a natural progression from that, using cause-and-effect with time travel. The Rise of Red is the cause, and Wicked Wonderland is the effect.
We follow the consequences through Red and Chloe’s eyes and share bewilderment at their new normal with them. Seeing Rita Ora’s Queen of Hearts always cheerful, as if she is always high on gummy bears and skittles, takes some getting used to. As disorienting as this is, the story, new characters, and relationship dynamics make the experience worth our while.
Director Kimmy Gatewood and writers Tamara Chestna, Dan Frey, and Ru Sommer gracefully balance substance and style to the beat of Descendants’ drum. The movie delivers Disney’s hallmark themes of love and acceptance in a way that respectfully sets it apart from its predecessors. Half of the kids have some form of newly surfaced family drama. Pink herself is a literal manifestation of that, being Red’s little sister who never existed before. Chloe feels more disconnected from her mom, Cinderella (Brandy). Max Hatter is a completely different person now that his father is a psycho, and I am certain that Hazel and other VKs (Villains’ Kids) never existed before either.
Order and Chaos
Despite the awe and whimsy of Disney fairy tale magic and time travel shenanigans, Descendants 5 grounds the conflict in the present. While Maddox and his accomplice, Chessy (Awkwafina), plot to tear the kingdom apart, Red and Chloe are almost torn apart. The heroes’ kids and villains’ kids are initially at each other’s throats in their uneasy alliance, but the real conflict lies in established bonds. Testna, Frey, and Sommer test Red and Chloe’s fresh friendship by restructuring the status quo now that Red is an HK. Cantrall and Baker’s seemingly perfect princesses bring sisterly tension that feeds on each other’s character arcs.
Red has the mom she always wanted, a sister she never asked for, and a rewritten past. Chloe is disillusioned with her mom because she cannot relate to her despite their bond in the past, and feels like she has lost her place in the world. Instead of the allies by chance they were in the Rise of Red, they are friends by choice this time. Although their friendship is in its infancy, it relates to best friends who grow apart when new people and surroundings become factors. Except their circumstances are more nuanced and Shakespearean.
Cantrall leans into Red’s reluctant heroism as someone caught between dueling sides. She is an alpha and a rebel with a cause, but she is not perfect, and she knows it. She carries her role with the charisma and attitude demanded, simultaneously conveying so much distress and uncertainty. Baker is a lost puppy on New Year’s Eve as Chloe. She allows us to sympathise with her abandonment issues with ease throughout the movie. She knows her worth, but she cannot help feeling like no one else does. Our protagonists clash, and it is heartbreaking to see them stand divided until they figure it out together in a satisfying resolution.
Breaking Bad Hatter
Leonardo Nam is insanely entertaining as the evil Maddox Hatter. He is only a tragic villain when you consider how good he was in the original timeline. This madman seems irredeemable with all the fun he has being bad. Nam is having the time of his life as if he is auditioning for the Mad Hatter, who happens to be a Batman villain. Maddox’s son Max is far more sympathetic because there is still good left in him. He wants nothing more than distance from his father’s reputation.
A Virtual Amusement Park
Wicked Wonderland is the most aesthetically pleasing movie in the film saga so far. It even has better lighting and color grading than most recent blockbusters. Auradon and Wonderland are not only settings but characters in themselves. The entire film is an immersive roller coaster ride into director Gatewood’s lucid dream. The color combinations pop with thoughtful calculation, letting the live-action environment warmly embrace its animated roots.
Wicked Wonderland would never let us forget why Descendants is a hit musical franchise. Its soundtrack does not disappoint at all. Multiple eras of pop music mix with doses of rap, and R&B, resulting in a string of infectious melodies that adds rewatch value. Cantrall, Baker, and Liamani gracefully lead the young vocals by example. While each newcomer gets a moment in the spotlight, showcasing their range, Kiara Romero is a natural-born showstopper. She leads the ensemble number, “Did You Hear About Them?” which is a strong contender for Wicked Wonderland’s best song. Her hook is incredible, no pun intended.
Legends Do Not Stay Silent
As talented as this generation of HKs and VKs is, Cinderella and Bridgette stand ready to put them in their place. Real queens Brandy and Rita Ora share the duet, “The Girl I Used To Be,” an event worth waiting for. It is a powerful, emotional anthem about remembering the past and embracing the future that hits harder because of the legends pouring their souls into it. Before and after, Brandy and Ora step aside, limiting their voices in flattering measures so the kids can have their movie.
Descendants: Wicked Wonderland Wins a Game of Hearts
Kids, including those at heart, and musical lovers will look fondly at Descendants: Wicked Wonderland. Kimmy Gatewood and her writing team do not regurgitate the story structure of The Rise of Red. This sequel is an organic chapter about moving forward, never backward, in more ways than one. It juggles themes of change, nostalgia, grief, and acceptance with nuance in a digestible way for children and parents. Movie magic lets the world come alive as the stars embrace its splendor, color, and music, their talents synchronised beautifully.
Wicked Wonderland will have its place cemented in Disney Channel’s hall of classics. The future of the Descendants franchise sure looks bright, even though our time with this generation may be coming to an end soon. The pressure is on for the third chapter to continue the momentum and end the Pocket Watch trilogy on a high note.
