Streaming Positive messages, peril in overstuffed franchise reboot. “Descendants: The Rise of Red” is part of Disney’s popular fairy-tale-inspired musical franchise. It has positive messages about treating others with kindness, but it also puts its diverse cast of characters in dangerous situations.
Parents are verbally and psychologically abusive, and teenagers act out or must learn to think for themselves as a result. Characters try to put themselves in others’ shoes to learn what caused them to be the way they are, and characters also try to extend olive branches to traditional enemies, with varied success. Villains threaten others, including children and their parents, with revenge, beheadings and banishments, and there are sword fights, chases, high-speed near crashes and pranks that turn people into creatures.
A married couple flirts, dances and blows each other kisses. Language is limited to “witch,” “tyrant” and “heck.” Race isn’t a theme in the story, and White, Black, Asian and Latino actors — including Kylie Cantrall, Malia Baker and Morgan Dudley — play both good and evil characters.
(91 minutes).
