Coco (November 22, 2017)

A brief note before I begin the review: I chose to watch the Spanish dubbed version instead of the English version because 1. I watched that in theaters originally and wanted a change, and 2. This film is heavily inspired by Mexican heritage (specifically the Holiday, Day of the Dead) and I wanted to see it in the intended language to see if it changes by enjoyment of the film at all.

The story follows a 12-year-old boy named Miguel who is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead, where he seeks the help of his deceased musician great-great-grandfather to return him to his family among the living and to reverse his family's ban on music. Coco was actually released in Mexico about a month before the United States to coincide with Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). It was well received in Mexico, breaking numerous records in the country including: the biggest opening weekend for an original animated film, the highest-grossing animated film as well as the highest grossing film of all time. All this is a testament to how faithful the film is to Mexico’s cultural heritage and it results in a spectacular final product. This is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen and Definitely Pixar’s most spectacular film yet. When Miguel first crossed the bridge and we get our first glimpse of the land of the dead I was speechless; the sight took my breath away. I wanted badly to step into this ethereal and enchanting world. Pixar truly did a smashing job capturing the magic of such a world, without making it morbid or grotesque, feelings Americans normally associate with the dead and death. I am not Mexican, nor do I speak Spanish; my knowledge of the country is, admittedly, very limited. That being said, watching this film, I felt like I could connect with the spirit of the holiday and the movie itself, the importance of family (as well as the value of music!) The story the unfolds is beautiful, I connected to every character and was brought to tears by the end. I truly undervalued this film when I saw it in theaters but now, I see how precious and wonderful it is. Miguel is a great young boy, determined, musically gifted, kind, and honest, both to others and himself. He refuses to give up music as it is an integral part of himself- a notion I can relate to. Life would not be worth living without music. Because of this, he refuses to take the easy way out and instead forges his own path to return to the land of the living. He is accompanied by the loyal and lovable dog Dante and the crafty and charming Hector who both prove to be invaluable friends. Miguel’s family, both living and, more notably, dead, are good but not as great as the main protagonists. They genuinely love him and want what’s best for him, though they are misguided and mistaken as to what that really is. The music shines throughout the film. “Remember Me” which won an Oscar for Best Original Song works perfectly in the context of the film (though I am not entirely convinced it should have won the award (though it was an admittedly weak year for the category)). Finally, watching the film in Spanish, I believed, enhanced my enjoyment of the film immensely. It just felt more natural hearing the characters speak their mother tongue, and, with the help of subtitles, I never felt lost. The signing, in particular, benefited from this change. Overall, Coco is a phenomenal celebration of Mexico and one of Pixar’s best productions.

Final Rating: 9/10