Coco - Review
This review of Coco is spoiler-free!
For anyone who knows anything about Pixar, they know that they almost never fail to make a satisfying film. While some of them seem to cater more towards the child demographic, as they should, of course, there are others that manage to hit the hearts of all ages. I remember watching a film like Up and just absolutely adoring it, even though I was in my late teens. Pixar has that ability to get in touch with everyone and that's what makes all of their films so incredible. Coco is not different in this aspect, and I'm happy to tell everyone that this film is absolutely fantastic for anyone of any age.
Coco is a stunning film to look at. The Pixar animators continue to nail everything possible with their films, and when looking at the world they create here it's no question why they're considered to be the top of the animation world. The vibrancy of color in this world is fantastic and the characters just look simply stunning. One of the things that Coco does so well that I don't remember about previous other Pixar films is how they manage to show depth within objects or characters. The titular character Coco is an old woman, and you can see every wrinkle and crevice within her skin on a level I simply could not believe was possible with animation. Hats off to the team at Pixar for creating such a beautiful film that manages to entice the senses throughout.
The main character of Coco is a young boy by the name of Miguel. He's a boy who was born into a family of shoemakers who just simply wants to do something unique with his life. He wants to be a musician. Unfortunately for Miguel, due to events in their past, Miguel's family hates music and everything to do with it so they shut him down at the beginning of the film. Anthony Gonzalez embodies this character so well, he's a boy so full of life and awe that when things go awry and he finds himself in the world of the dead, it's great seeing his range of emotions. I can't give enough praise to Anthony on his performance and once again it stands out among the best of any Pixar film.
The story of this film manages to overcome its rather generic nature and create an enthralling adventure. Starting off in Mexico seeing Miguel's struggles with his hopes and dreams vs. his obligations to his family was great, and it brought to mind themes of that same area. Growing up we all have dreams and aspirations but deciding what we do with them is what allows us to grow. Miguel learns lessons along his journey about the value of family and the world around him. When he's in the land of the dead, it allows for those younger fans to gain an understanding that after someone passes on, they simply aren't gone and that they still hold a place in the world. The rules of the land of the dead help establish this and make the story all the more fulfilling.
Overall when reflecting on the adventure and world of Coco, I can't help but smile. As an adult I thought seeing a film by Pixar may be less interesting for me, but having left the theater in tears I can happily say that's not the case. Pixar's formula still manages to touch the hearts of people of all ages and sizes, and I can't put enough praise on this film. While I'm sure there have been better films by them in the lifespan, there's something unique and fresh about Coco that isn't found in any of the other films: depth of character. For anyone who is a Pixar fan at heart, this film is absolutely a must see. Even for those casual film fans who may have passed it by in its theater run, you definitely should check it out when it releases on Blu-ray next year.
8.75/10
