In October last year, Pixar released their nineteen (and latest) animated feature film by the name of Coco. This studio seems to be able to do no wrong as the film managed to bring in a whopping $681 million at the box office. They have fast become the foundation stone upon which all other movies of the same genre are matched against. And so far none (perhaps with the exception of Dreamworks) have even come close to the levels of success and fandom they receive. This newest outing centres around a "Latino" theme (a pop at President Trump, possibly?) and features an all Mexican cast of brand new characters. Can Pixar still keep to their incredible unblemished track record by creating yet another smash hit?
The movie takes place during the well-known Mexican festival referred to as the "Day of the Dead". Many years ago, a jilted wife by the name of Imelda (voiced by Alanna Ubach) refuses to have any of her family ever play music again due to her husband leaving her to pursue a career in that very field. They had a daughter at the time by the name of Coco (voiced by Ana Ofelia Murguia) whom now, in the present day, is but an old aged lady. Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) is Coco's great grandson and soon discovers that one of his idles, the famous Ernesto de le Cruz (voiced by Benjamin Bratt), could in fact he his long-lost father. However, due to Ernesto's unfortunate passing, Miguel sets about to steal his prized guitar kept locked within a private mausoleum. However, upon touching the stringed instrument, he instantly gets transported to the actual "Land of the Dead", where he ends up getting much more than he had originally bargained for.
There's a certain "look" and "feel" of animation when Pixar are involved in any project. The use of vibrant, fluorescent colour palettes. Deep, emotional depth to their expression filled characters. It's almost down to an exact art-form and I'm happy to say they've implemented that same winning formula here once again. There are plenty of moments that will beckon to your eyes with a near hypnotic effect at the radiant beauty. Such as the "land of the dead" itself which is anything but. Wide, sweeping shots of the city from above will have you gasping in awe. Or the "bridge of flowers" that makes you just want to bath in it's glittering yellow petals all day long. The levels of sophistication regarding the astounding visuals only improve with each subsequent Pixar release. And the aesthetic quality is most definitely one of the main highlights of Coco. The original score, as well as the vocal tracks written especially for the movie, are also full of their own blend of personality and soul. Kids and adults alike should feel right at home.
If there is one main underlying running theme throughout, it's the importance of family and their corresponding values. Make no mistake, you may have a hard time holding back the tears. Not only is our main protagonist, Miguel, a lovable little rogue but he comes complete with a host of incredibly charming support cast members. Such as his faithful dog, Dante, or a down-and-out "dead guy" he befriends over on the other side. I do understand that this is primarily a children's movie with adult elements thrown in, but the relatability factor regarding both sets of age groups, work on almost every level. We can all find a tonne of enjoyment and laughter with Coco as the narrative is literally bursting at the seams with side stories, jokes and numerous hidden messages. Each skeletal figure has a surprisingly varied range of expressions too that should captivate and engage with audiences. This is the perfect family film that you, the wife and the kids would have a great time checking out together.
Well, their track record only seems to be going from strength to strength. I can't believe how many innovative stories and beloved characters Pixar are capable of conjuring up. This is a heart-warming adventure of love, learning and appreciating the gift of life. You could do a lot worse than watching the fantastic Coco. Another golden feather in the cap of the magnificent animation giants that are Pixar.
