Descendants: The Rise of Red Parent Guide

Princess Red (Kylie Cantrall) of Wonderland is a rebel and a disappointment to her mother, the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora), who wants Red to be just as ruthless and power hungry as she is. Over in Auradon, the pirate captain Uma (China Anne McClain) has become principal of Auradon Prep and wants to extend an olive branch to Wonderland by inviting Red to study there. The Queen agrees, but soon reveals an ulterior, sinister motive.

To undo her mother’s evil deeds, Red teams up with Chloe (Malia Baker), the daughter of Cinderella (Brandy Norwood) and Charming (Paolo Montalban), to go back in time and change the events that tilted the Queen towards evil.

Something I will always commend Disney Original Movies on is their consistency. The level of production, acting, and writing is always about the same, so you know what you’re getting every time. They aren’t for everyone, but fans generally don’t leave disappointed. The fourth live-action installment in the Descendants franchise is no exception. I’m not overly familiar with the past films aside from catching a few scenes here or there while my son was watching them, so I’m fully aware that I’m not the target audience. But as a former (and maybe current) High School Musical fan, I understand the appeal.

This film takes a dramatic turn from the preceding trilogy, as a majority of the original cast is not present. The story instead focuses on two new characters, Red and Chloe, with some returning side characters like the Fairy Godmother to round out the world. Although they may miss their past favorites, I’m sure fans will find a lot to love in these new characters, even if only for the thematic costumes and bright hair the series is famous for. The girls both grow as people through the adventure and learn valuable lessons about morality, love, and kindness.

I could nitpick this plot to death, but that’s not the point. It’s only meant to be a vehicle for catchy songs and a simple message, and it does it well enough for young audiences to easily follow along. I did find the pacing to be strange, as what turned out to be the climax felt like a second act, and the story resolves in the final five minutes. But again, if you’re choosing to watch this movie you know what you’re getting into. As with the rest of the series, the negative content is reserved to only the mildest of peril and a bit of slapstick. Fans of the franchise are sure to enjoy this film, and everyone else probably wouldn’t want to watch it anyway.