6 years in the making, Coco has finally been released to the world. With the promise of a Pixar film about family and about the Mexican holiday of Dia De Los Muertos, I have been waiting for this film since it's announcement back in 2012. It brings me great joy to say that Coco is not only the best film of the year, but one of the most moving and creative films I have ever seen. I expect nothing less from Pixar.
Coco is the story of a young musician named Miguel. His family has placed a generations-old ban on music. Not wanting to be part of a family who hates music, Miguel, in an attempt to show off his talent during the Dia De Los Muertos Talent Show, takes the guitar of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz and is unintentionally transported to the Land of the Dead where he learns about his family history.
"Seize your moment." That is what Miguel's idol, Ernesto de la Cruz says, and you can see how Pixar really seized their moment here by creating such a no holds barred beautiful, inventive and truly unique and risky film, urging and inspiring the audience to seize their moment as well. This is Pixar at one of their most ambitious highs. But, above all, Coco is a film about legacy, family and art. The film's story really focuses on the concept of remembering those who have passed on and honoring them. I think that is such a heartwarming, and relatable theme. We have all lost loved ones, and this film makes the idea of loss so much more comforting and, rather than telling us to "get over it," the film tells us to honor those we love and that even though they may not be with us physically, as long as they are remembered by us, they are never truly gone. These themes make Coco the moving and meaningful film that it is.
The filmmakers at Pixar went through an incredible amount of research to properly portray Mexican culture in this film, and it really shows. The attention to detail here is to be applauded. The world of the film feels so authentic, and the response it is getting from audiences clearly shows how important this is. The film even boasts an all-Latino cast! In a world where Hollywood white-washes characters constantly, this is so great to see, and it shows how dedicated Pixar is to every last detail to make their worlds feel alive.
So it's pretty clear how much love was put into making the film's Mexican setting feel as authentic as possible. But what not many people have talked about is how accurately it also depicts living with Dementia, and having a family member living with it. I feel this is a detail that cannot be ignored. Miguel's great-grandmother, Coco (a character who is so important to the story the film is named after her) has Dementia and it is handled perfectly in the film. It is not played for laughs like Dory's short-term memory loss, but it is treated as an actual condition with real stakes that come with it. This film is not afraid to give a real and accurate interpretation of the condition, no matter how heartbreaking it can be to see it unfold in the film.
Coco, while not a musical, has some amazing musical numbers and treats music as a core part of the narrative. Remember Me is going to win Best Original Song at the Oscars and I have no doubt about that. The song is sung multiple times throughout the film, but each time it is in a different context, from lavish musical number to heartbreaking irony, and the way the filmmakers implemented this use of music into the film is nothing short of genius. There is also an amazing score composed by Michael Giacchino that makes the film's Mexican setting feel so much more alive and real.
There is also an amazing cast of characters here. Miguel is a very likable character and is very well developed as he goes on his journey and learns more about his family history and why exactly they have banned music. His Xolo dog friend, Dante constantly brings the laughs from his pure silliness, and reminds me a little too much of my dog, who was actually also a street dog from Mexico! I was in stitches whenever he was on screen. Hector, a trickster who Miguel runs into has an amazing character arc, and Miguel's family, both living and dead, are very lively and have their moments where the film focuses on them, especially Miguel's great great grandmother, Mama Imelda. The film has a beautiful cast of characters, which, as I mentioned before, is voiced by an all-Latino cast. Miguel is voiced by newcomer Anthony Gonzales who absolutely nails the role, bringing the necessary emotion and child-like sensibilities of the character. He's even an excellent singer! Benjamin Bratt also does a fantastic job as Ernesto de la Cruz, really emphasizing the character's ego. Gael Garcia Bernal as Hector also really brings the range of emotions in his voice. Every part of the voice cast brings such life to their characters and make them all the more memorable.
The film is also very well directed. Lee Unkrich makes his return to the director's chair after working on Toy Story 3, this time with Adrian Molina as co-director and one of the writers. They both work together to tell this moving story, set in a world that quickly goes from ordinary to extraordinary. They structured and told a story that is also shocking and full of twists and told it in the best way possible, through clever, witty writing, excellent story structure, strong characters and beautiful animation. Unkrich and Molina have achieved something remarkable and special with this film, and I cannot wait to see what they're working on next.
The animation is incredibly stunning. Each shot is a work of art and the cinematography is top notch. You can see the hard work the directors, animators and artists put into each frame of the film. One shot in the film actually has 7 million lights! Many of the characters in the Land of the Dead are very vibrant and colorful, much like the Land of the Dead itself. There is also such a stark contrast in artstyle between the fictional Mexican village of Santa Cecilia and the colorful and lively (and also fictional) Land of the Dead.
Coco is an absolute triumph of animation and cinema. Not only is it so amazing to see Mexican culture represented in such a realistic way in film, but to tell such a moving, unique and unpredictable and shocking story to tell is just as triumphant. This Mexcian representation not only paves the way for things to come in the representation of other cultures in the film industry, but the film tells beautiful a story that can only be told through the art of animation and pushes the medium forward. You will laugh, you will cry, you will gasp and you will go un poco loco for Coco!
Film Grade: A+
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