Since its conception, Pixar has revolutionized the film industry with their amazing animation and their powerfully emotional storytelling. “Toy Story” remains the first computer animated feature film ever as Pixar sought to combine perfect animation and a compelling story. More recently, “Inside Out” pushed limits and discovered new frontiers with their storytelling as they delved deep into how the human mind and heart process emotions. These two films show Pixar’s commitment to excellent filmmaking, which sets the bar for all its subsequent films.
BRILLIANCE IN TECHNICALITY
“Coco,” however, does not reach this seemingly standard level of greatness, but it remains enjoyable in its own right and provides suitable entertainment for the entire family. Directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina bring stunning animation and a proud effort to celebrate Mexican culture in this film, but it fails to raise the film from good to great.
“Coco” proves an absolutely beautiful film. The meticulous attention to detail brings the animation to life and keeps the viewer captivated and immersed in the film. The vibrant colors elicit a feeling of euphoria and darker colors to elicit a more somber tone. Artistically, the colors captured the essence of Mexican celebrations and traditions, which helps elevate the film as it allows the viewers to experience a wide variety of tones. The music impresses as each song entertains and helps to enhance the story. Everything technical about this film proves brilliant. The film looks and sounds great, which allows for a more comprehensive experience.
UNDERWHELMING STORY
Although the technical experience impresses, the story lacks originality and borrows too many themes from 20th Century Fox’s “The Book of Life.” Anthony Gonzalez voices the protagonist Miguel, a young musician constrained by his family’s strict music ban. On Dia de los Muertos, Miguel magically becomes trapped in the “Land of the Dead” where he enlists the help of Hector, voiced by Gael Garcia Bernal, and develops a plan to escape the “Land of the Dead” and make use of his musical talents. This movie suffers from a plot line all too similar to recent films making it predictable and unoriginal, which prevents it from rising to the level of excellence expected from Pixar. That being said, “Coco” skillfully executes this story type and allows for a magnificent tribute to Mexican culture.
“Coco” delivers an enjoyable film, but it falls short of the expectations laid out by previous Pixar films and does not rank among other exceptional Pixar films. Rather, it features stunning visuals and characters that anyone can enjoy. Ultimately, this movie better suits a night in on Netflix rather than a trip to the theater.
