DESCENDANTS 3 Movie Reaction! | First Time Watch! | Dove Cameron | Cameron Boyce | Sofia Carson

The hosts highly praised the decision to make Audrey the primary antagonist. They viewed this as a 'clever way to bring her character back' and a refreshing departure from simply re-using existing villains or focusing solely on the Isle of the Lost for conflict. This twist allowed the narrative to explore the idea that 'good people can go bad too,' challenging the initial premise of cordoning off 'visually evil' individuals.

Vivian Day states, 'I really loved that the twist was Audrey going bad. I thought that was a really clever way to bring her character back because she wasn't at all in the second one, but it didn't have to keep returning to like old villains or like you know something happening on the aisle.'

Both hosts consistently highlighted the superior quality of the film's choreography and visual styling. They asserted that the dance numbers and overall aesthetic were 'equal to or better' than those found in many modern major release musicals. This high production value contributed significantly to the movie's entertainment factor and its status as a successful Disney Channel Original Movie.

Michael Boost comments, 'Objectively, these movies have equal to or better choreography than like modern major release musicals.' Vivian Day adds, 'I thought the dance battle with the knights was amazing. So good. I thought that was a really clever way to do the whole like we're coming together because we're working together thing and each one of them showing off the dance moves was so good.'

A significant point of contention for the hosts was the perceived lack of depth and swift resolution in Mal's emotional journey. They felt her decision to close the barrier and her subsequent apology to her friends, particularly Uma, lacked sufficient internal struggle and validation. This rapid turnaround diminished the impact of her character growth, suggesting the movie prioritized plot progression over emotional realism.

Michael Boost notes, 'I feel like we got to the core of Mal. We didn't like really have Mal like struggling over, oh, I'm the one who said we should close the barrier enough for the immediate turnaround of her friends.' Vivian Day agrees, 'I would have liked more of an apology from Mal, more of an apology, more reasoning.'

The hosts found a moment of unexpected depth in Hades' dialogue, where he points out the hypocrisy in how mistakes are judged based on who commits them. He highlights that when a villain tries to 'destroy the world,' they are 'locked up and throw away the key,' but when a 'good guy' does something similar, it's merely a 'lapse in judgment.' This observation served as a 'heavier point' within the otherwise lighter narrative.

Michael Boost recounts Hades' statement: 'When it's one of us tries to destroy the world and it's like lock them up and throw away the key, but one of yours does it and like, 'Oh, sorry, it's just a lapse in judgment.' I thought that was a really great sort of heavier point to leave there.'

Despite having a similar runtime to the second movie, 'Descendants 3' felt faster-paced, keeping the audience engaged. The film also successfully developed its secondary relationships, such as Evie and Doug ('Devie') and Carlos and Jane ('Jarlos'). The hosts particularly enjoyed the song 'Just a Kiss' for Evie and Doug, noting how it added depth to their budding relationship without requiring extensive screen time.

Michael Boost observes, 'Despite this one having about the same run time as number two, it felt like the pacing was a little bit faster.' Vivian Day praises, 'Eevee's delightful song about it's only a kiss, which I thought was so cute. It's so sweet. And the way it was done and the sort of depth it gave their relationship without needing to spend a whole lot of time with it was really delightful.'