Descendants 2 Review

Spoiler Alert!!!

Kenny Ortega once again out did himself with the Descendants franchise. Descendants 2 premiered on July 21st in six different networks (yes you heard it six networks) having over 13 million views. This movie not only was the first movie Disney premiered in 6 other networks, but also was the second most seen movie on Disney Channel following High School Musical 2, which had over 17 million views. This sequel doubled the amount of views the original film had, but it also became the number two over all album sold on Itunes, number one soundtrack on Itunes and having two of their songs on the top 100 billboard in a matter of 24 hours. Now after these incredible results, let’s talk about the movie! I repeat there will be spoilers so do not continue reading if you have not seen the movie.

Descendants 2 begins with the biggest dance number in the movie, "Ways to be Wicked", where the isle kids spell the students in Auradon with apples and everyone brakes into singing and amazing dancing. Kenny pulls off a great dance number by creating the Auradon kids like a zombie apocalypse by them consuming the apples Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos give them. Also, we have to give props to Dove Cameron and Sophia Carson for their miraculous vocal skills in this song and Cameron Boyce and Booboo Stewart for their amazing dance skills!

After the song, you learn that not all children of the Isle are adjusting to living in Auradon. Mal, played by Dove Cameron and daughter of the evil Maleficent, feels she has a lot of pressure pretending to be someone who she’s not because of her status of dating King Ben, son of Belle and Beast. After a fight with Ben, she decides this world is not for her and goes back to the Isle of the Lost to win back her territory. Not only do her friends go back to the one place they thought they would never step foot in, but her boy friend goes with them to the journey to convince Mal to come back!! I just have to say I love the message Disney shows their young viewers in these couple of scenes of how friends stick together for the good and the bad.

During the ordeal we see Mal is going through, we get to see the land of the Isle in a way we never saw it in the first movie. We meet Ursula’s daughter Uma, who is played by China Mcclaim, and she introduces herself to us by performing one of the biggest songs in the soundtrack, “What’s my name”! Not only is “What’s my Name” one of the biggest hits, the choreography in the song is insane!! I think China really does an incredible job in this number and does an amazing job showing us her singing and dancing skills. And of course we can’t forget her favorite sidekick Harry the Hook played by the famous Thomas Doherty.

So as Ben and the Isle kids enter in the land, they try to show Ben ways in how to be a villain so they don’t get caught by the other villains, which are not to fond with them since they left to live in Auradon. This number here “Chilin like a Villain” is such a fun number to enjoy and watch. Not only is Ben learning how to act like a villain, but this number has a Michael Jackson feel to it which means it has entertaining dance moves in the whole dance number. This song is performed by Carlos, (Cameron Boyce), Jay, (Booboo Stewart), Evie (Sophia Carson) and King Ben (Mitchell Hope). And did I forget to mention this song is one of their top songs on Itunes right now!

As King Ben gets captured by Uma and her pirate gang, Mal is summoned to go meet Uma in Ursula’s Fish and Chips where they have an intense arm wrestling battle determining Ben’s fate. As Mal reminds Uma she is just like her mother, always making deals, she is promised if she wins she will have Ben back safe and sound, however, if Uma wins Mal and her gang will have to bring fairy Godmother’s wand to her by noon of the following day. So now is up to the gang to figure out how to save Ben without giving Uma the wand and breaking the barrier that separates the Isle of the Lost from Auradon.

As Carlos and Jay rush back to make a 3D copy of the wand, Evie and Mal go to Cinderella’s stepmother hair salon where we meet her granddaughter Dizzy. Dizzy is super close to Evie and reminds Evie she will always have a part of her in the Isle. This moment is very special in the movie because it reminds Evie her roots and where she came from before she left to go live with the prince and princesses. Showing her not all the children who live in the Isle deserve to be living there. After leaving the salon, the girls go back to Mal's place where Mal assures Evie she will not returning back to Auradon with them. But this scene introduces us to one of the most touching songs throughout the whole film. "Space between" is sung by Evie and Mal which is about Best Friends who will always be part of each other’s life even though they will be in different lands. You can feel the hurt and love as they sing throughout the song and express their feelings as any sister would. I don’t know about many people, but I can say I shed a tear or two during the song.

So as the boys return with the fake wand, Mal and the villain kids meet Uma in a ship where they must make the trade to save Ben from Uma’s pirate crew. This scene introduces us to one of the biggest songs and performances in the movie, "It’s Goin Down". This song shows us Dove and China rap skills as they rap battle one another before they make the trade. After the battle follows an intense sword fighting scene which involves all the villain kids to battle Uma and her crew so they can escape with Ben safely. I love how as the original villain kids are escaping; Uma’s song “Whats my Name” is reflected in the end as Uma is not accepting another defeat from Mal.

As Mal is ready to show Ben her love for him and you think everyone will live happy ever after, things take a turn to the wicked side. Not only does Ben brake up with Mal in front of everyone in the middle of a party, but he also brings Uma as his date. As shocked as everyone was, Mal notices Ben is cursed and must break the curse by true loves kiss. Does this ring a bell? But of course Uma does not accept another loss and jumps into the ocean becoming an octopus like her mother. As Uma is tackling everyone on the ship, Mal turns into a dragon trying to stop Uma once and for all. Did anyone ever imagine a mini Ursula and a mini Maleficent fighting for the win? Can we talk about a crazy scene?

Finally as the battle of Uma and Mal is finally over (or is it), the kids in Auradon celebrate the victory with one another singing "You and Me". This number choreography is really interesting to watch just because it’s done with water. It’s so entertaining to see the kids doing flips and turns in the water while singing in the same time.

This movie is great for children of all ages including young adults as well. This movie does an astonishing job at introducing the Isle of the Lost to us and goes above and beyond with their make-up and costumes! This movie illustrates the importance of friendships and relationships and shows children never to be afraid of being themselves. Not only did Kenny Ortega kill it once again with his choreography, but the music is so much fun to jam out too as well! I think we might be seeing the Isle children and Uma again in a potential Descendants 3. Go to the Disney app now and watch both Descendants one and two and rekindle your childhood. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

A++