The Descendants are back. And it’s a beautiful return to Wonderland.
In Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, Red (Kylie Cantrall) and Chloe (Malia Baker) awaken to a very different world than they left. After their time-travelling escapades, their mothers are now best friends and their families are stabilized. (Red even has a new sister!) But, in the absence of the villainous side to the Queen of Hearts, a new threat arises in the form of Maddox Hatter. When Maddox attempts his own wild coup of Wonderland, Red and Chloe team up with a crew of new HK’s and VK’s—including Maddox’s son, Max (Brendon Tremblay)—to save their nation from certain collapse.
It should be noted that this franchise is essentially ‘critic-proof’. From the outset, these have always been family-friendly affairs on Disney Channel designed to get children and teens dancing during the summer months. Intentionally goofy, they are unapologetic for their style and sweetness and try to challenge kids to see the world a little more lovingly.
And frankly, there’s nothing wrong with that.
However, it’s also worth noting that some of these films are definitely better than others. And, truthfully, Wicked Wonderland does feel like a tremendous step forward for the franchise itself. (Or, as my 11-year-old stated more clearly, Wicked Wonderland is ‘a million-billion times better than the last one’.)
Directed by franchise newcomer Kimmy Gatewood, there’s definitely a little extra pop in this excursion to Wonderland that has been missing from the last couple of films. Blasting the screen with colour, the set design for Wonderland is a massive upgrade from the tepid castle walls of Auradon Prep High School where the students normally call home. Featuring a number of practical sets, this entry into the long-running franchise definitely feels a little more… well… magical from a visual standpoint.
What’s more, the film also gives more screentime to its older stars, offering some balance to the story of the film’s central youth. With vastly expanded roles for Brandy and Rita Ora, Wicked Wonderland finally makes use of the talent that they brought into the world during the last film. (The duo even shares a duet onscreen that becomes one of the film’s better musical numbers.)
Though Wonderland‘s best addition comes in the form of Awkwafina’s Chessy, a slightly different riff on the Cheshire Cat. As the voice of the CGI kitty, one can’t help but feel like the star is absolutely thrilled to be a part of Disney’s villainous world. Allowing the dialogue to slide off out of her mouth with malicious intent, Awkwafina often steals scenes with her salacious silliness.
Even so, Wonderland’s central stars are the ones who keep Wonderland from losing its head. With a more coherent script to support them, young leads Cantrall and Baker appear far more comfortable onscreen here than they did in their initial outing. There’s a confidence within them that comes with maturity and the two show real growth, especially Cantrall. (Part of their success might also come from the addition of new cast members Tremblay and Alexandro Byrd, two young men who bring out the best in the two young women.)
Finally, what makes Wicked Wonderland feel like a return to form for the franchise is its storytelling. While these scripts are always more focused on style than substance, Gatewood returns the world of Descendants to its central tension between good and bad. Whereas the last entry of the rebooted franchise told a story of sisterhood, it never really got to the heart of what it means to be a villain or hero. Thankfully, Wicked Wonderland allows these characters to play with their dark (and light) side a little more, highlighting the notion that everyone deserves second chances.
After all, this is a world where the next generation don’t want to follow in their wicked parents’ footsteps.
Their world is a mess largely because of the actions of those that came before and they want to do better, even if they do carry the label of ‘VKs’. Wonderland puts this tension back on display as Red and Chloe attempt to make sense of their lives after their time-travelling adventures. Faced with lives that feel foreign to them, the duo once again is forced to decide what it really means to be heroes and villains when those roles are upended.
And, ultimately, that’s what makes these films such delightfully harmless kids fare. Though the sizzle is the colourful dance routines and pop-infused soundtrack, the meat of these stories is the way that young people are called to step up in the shadows of their parents’ failings. Yes, the stories may be erratic but there’s more than enough here to entertain the next generation while still challenging them to view the world with hope and each other with eyes of grace. In short, it’s straightforward, pure Disney magic.
And frankly, there’s nothing wrong with that.
Descendants: Wicked Wonderland is available on Disney+ on Friday, July 17th, 2026.
