Year: 2017
Directors: Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina
Starring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, and Alanna Ubach
Tagline: The celebration of a lifetime
Synopsis: In following his dream to become a musician, Miguel finds himself in the Land of the Dead where he must uncover the truth behind his family's ban on music.
Tagline: The celebration of a lifetime
Synopsis: In following his dream to become a musician, Miguel finds himself in the Land of the Dead where he must uncover the truth behind his family's ban on music.
Review
Before the feature film is a (not-so) short film: Olaf's Frozen Adventure. It was a bit twee at points. It was much longer than it needed to be. But by the end, it was better than I'd expected and it made me smile (mostly because of Sven and a hawk).
On to Coco!
In a return to what it does best -- original stories that tug at your heartstrings -- Pixar has crafted yet another winner. I've seen it twice already and look forward to seeing it again.
Although it didn't strike me immediately, I later realized that Coco is Pixar's first musical. Others of their movies feature songs in the soundtrack, but they don't have the characters themselves breaking into song. Well, there is Mike Wazowski's "Put That Thing Back Where It Came From," but that doesn't really make Monsters, Inc. a musical.
Coco is a realistic musical. By that I mean the characters sing in a way that wouldn't be strange in the real world. Miguel sings at a talent show. Ernesto sings in a musical production. This isn't the kind of musical where a character breaks into song to express their emotions and the entire village joins in with harmony and choreography. Not that there's anything wrong with that kind of musical, but the realistic approach suits Coco, which has enough non-realistic things going on.
The songs are short and fun and suit the film and the characters. The main song of the film is "Remember Me," and it has been stuck in my head since I saw the film. There are actually three versions within Coco, two of which will tug at your heart.
Pixar has raised the bar once again in terms of animation. Coco is breathtakingly beautiful. The lights, the colors, the marigold petals, the alebrijes, all are gorgeous to look at. Think back to what Andy and Sid looked like in Toy Story. Then look at Miguel and Hector. Animated humans have come a long way since Pixar's early days. Even the differences in hair and water textures from The Incredibles to now are amazing. And if that wasn't enough, I read that the animators took the time and effort to ensure that all guitar playing in the movie is accurate. Miguel is correctly fingering the music when he plays. Impressive.
I love the humor of Coco (and, let's be honest, of most Pixar films). The jokes aren't forced, manic, or crude. They flow naturally from the characters and the situations. We chuckle at Miguel's family because we recognize ourselves and our own families. Dante (the Xolo dog) is also fun. He has some great facial expressions.
Coco would be a good film if it were simply beautiful and funny. But it's more than that, which is what has long set Pixar film's apart. Coco has heart. It's not about Miguel hanging out with skeletons on the Day of the Dead; it's about Miguel connecting with his family in both the living world and the land of the dead. Miguel's passion is music. But as his journey continues, he realizes that family is most important of all. Coco is about treasuring the family we have and remembering the family that has gone before us and the legacy they left us. Honestly, Coco is like one brilliant, poignant plug for family history work.
The film is rated PG for thematic reasons. It is a movie that deals unashamedly with death after all. If your kiddos were OK with The Incredibles they'll be fine with Coco.
Coco is all about what Pixar does best. It's not quite up to the same level as Finding Nemo, Up, or WALL-E, but it comes pretty close and is a fitting addition to the Pixar lineup of heart-tugging films that take us where we've never been before. Go see Coco. Then go home and call your parents/grandparents.
*** Spoiler Section ***
That Hector is actually Miguel's great great grandfather didn't surprise me. I'd put that together when Hector first showed himself to be a musician. The fact that Ernesto never questions that he has a great great grandson, and never asks about his family, says quite a bit about Ernesto's character in life and in death.
I went into the film wondering why it was named "Coco." As the film unfolds, it becomes clear. Mama Coco is the link, the link between the living and the dead. She is the link between Miguel and Hector and between Hector and the world of the living. Coco is why Hector did some of things he did. And Coco is why Mama Imelda did some of the things she did.
On to Coco!
In a return to what it does best -- original stories that tug at your heartstrings -- Pixar has crafted yet another winner. I've seen it twice already and look forward to seeing it again.
Although it didn't strike me immediately, I later realized that Coco is Pixar's first musical. Others of their movies feature songs in the soundtrack, but they don't have the characters themselves breaking into song. Well, there is Mike Wazowski's "Put That Thing Back Where It Came From," but that doesn't really make Monsters, Inc. a musical.
Coco is a realistic musical. By that I mean the characters sing in a way that wouldn't be strange in the real world. Miguel sings at a talent show. Ernesto sings in a musical production. This isn't the kind of musical where a character breaks into song to express their emotions and the entire village joins in with harmony and choreography. Not that there's anything wrong with that kind of musical, but the realistic approach suits Coco, which has enough non-realistic things going on.
The songs are short and fun and suit the film and the characters. The main song of the film is "Remember Me," and it has been stuck in my head since I saw the film. There are actually three versions within Coco, two of which will tug at your heart.
Pixar has raised the bar once again in terms of animation. Coco is breathtakingly beautiful. The lights, the colors, the marigold petals, the alebrijes, all are gorgeous to look at. Think back to what Andy and Sid looked like in Toy Story. Then look at Miguel and Hector. Animated humans have come a long way since Pixar's early days. Even the differences in hair and water textures from The Incredibles to now are amazing. And if that wasn't enough, I read that the animators took the time and effort to ensure that all guitar playing in the movie is accurate. Miguel is correctly fingering the music when he plays. Impressive.
I love the humor of Coco (and, let's be honest, of most Pixar films). The jokes aren't forced, manic, or crude. They flow naturally from the characters and the situations. We chuckle at Miguel's family because we recognize ourselves and our own families. Dante (the Xolo dog) is also fun. He has some great facial expressions.
Coco would be a good film if it were simply beautiful and funny. But it's more than that, which is what has long set Pixar film's apart. Coco has heart. It's not about Miguel hanging out with skeletons on the Day of the Dead; it's about Miguel connecting with his family in both the living world and the land of the dead. Miguel's passion is music. But as his journey continues, he realizes that family is most important of all. Coco is about treasuring the family we have and remembering the family that has gone before us and the legacy they left us. Honestly, Coco is like one brilliant, poignant plug for family history work.
The film is rated PG for thematic reasons. It is a movie that deals unashamedly with death after all. If your kiddos were OK with The Incredibles they'll be fine with Coco.
Coco is all about what Pixar does best. It's not quite up to the same level as Finding Nemo, Up, or WALL-E, but it comes pretty close and is a fitting addition to the Pixar lineup of heart-tugging films that take us where we've never been before. Go see Coco. Then go home and call your parents/grandparents.
*** Spoiler Section ***
That Hector is actually Miguel's great great grandfather didn't surprise me. I'd put that together when Hector first showed himself to be a musician. The fact that Ernesto never questions that he has a great great grandson, and never asks about his family, says quite a bit about Ernesto's character in life and in death.
I went into the film wondering why it was named "Coco." As the film unfolds, it becomes clear. Mama Coco is the link, the link between the living and the dead. She is the link between Miguel and Hector and between Hector and the world of the living. Coco is why Hector did some of things he did. And Coco is why Mama Imelda did some of the things she did.
Quotable Quotes
- "I asked for a shoe shine, not your life's story, kid." -- Mariachi player to Miguel
- "I'm terribly allergic." "But Dante doesn't have any hair." "And I don't have a nose, yet here we are." -- Clerk and Miguel
- "We need to borrow your guitar." "Like how you borrowed my van, and my mini fridge, and my femur?! Where's my femur, Hector?!" -- Hector and Chicharron
- "Aw, that's such a sweet sentiment. And such bad timing!" -- Hector to Miguel
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