“We know all the ways to be W-I-C-K-E-D!” Many recognize this lyric from the iconic sequel to the hit Disney movie, Descendants 2. Grossing over $ 13 million, Descendants 2 solidified the franchise’s legacy as a childhood classic and is arguably the best of the four films.
Descendants follows the adventures of the children of Disney’s Villains. Themes such as family, jealousy, rebellion and forgiveness appear throughout the franchise as the characters struggle to find where they truly belong. Many children and teens can relate this feeling, making the films largely popular among these groups
The sequel quickly jumps back into the lives of Ben and Mal who are dealing with the pressures of being royalty. Mal is especially overwhelmed by the amount of attention she is receiving and tries to avoid the press at all costs. Simultaneously, jealousy brews in the Isle of the Lost as the children left behind grow resentful towards Mal and the others who were given the chance of a better life.
Uma, the daughter of Ursula and the leader of the Isle of the Lost, takes the stage as the newest villain, desperate to incite revenge against those chosen to attend Auradon Prep. Despite six months having gone by since the original Villain Kids (VKs) left the Isle, Ben had not selected any more. Those remaining on the Isle, like Uma, felt rejected by the King and his kingdom.
While Uma plots her revenge, conflict arises in Auradon between the VKs– Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos– and the Auradon Kids (AKs). After getting into a fight with Ben, Mal begins to question if she belongs in Auradon and returns to the Isle of the Lost. Ben, Evie, Jay and Carlos decide to follow her in hopes of convincing her to come back to her new home. Throughout the movie, conflicts arise between Uma, Mal and their respective crews. Although no solution is reached at the end of the movie, Mal and her friends realize they no longer belong on the Isle– in fact, none of the VKs do. The end of the film sets the stage for the third movie, which is cleverly revealed in the final scene as Uma ominously looks into the camera and says, “You didn’t think this was the end of the story, did you?”
Descendants 2 stands out from the rest of the films with its outstanding soundtrack. The film includes some of the most popular songs of the franchise such as “What’s My Name” and “Ways to Be Wicked”. While the other two films had some unnecessary songs, such as “Be Our Guest,” the sequel had hit after hit.
While the original film was also a major success, the plot does not surpass the sequel’s success. Having some of the most famous Disney villains serve as the antagonists is not nearly as interesting as having another Uma plot revenge on her fellow VKs. The first movie gave an introduction into the world and the characters, but Descendants 2 built on that foundation, adding more conflict and depth to the franchise.
Descendants 3 also paled in comparison to the second film as the plot steered away from the main characters, focusing on Audrey and introducing side characters like the twin children of Mr. Smee. Each scene of Descendants 2 was thought out well and executed perfectly, but the same cannot be said for the other movies which included uninteresting side plots.
While Descendants 2 had plenty of humorous moments, some of its most iconic scenes were the musical numbers. Hit songs such as Uma’s What’s My Name, Mal and Evie’s Space Between and Evie’s Chillin’ Like a Villain had both catchy lyrics and entertaining dance numbers, making them some of the most memorable parts of the film. Other fan favorite scenes included Carlos’s dog, Dude. His disobedience throughout the movie made it all the more funny and his special connection with Carlos made the sequel even more lovable.. Descendants 2 is arguably the best Descendants movie because of its catchy soundtrack, outstanding choreography and relatable themes.
