Director: Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina
Date: 23 December 2017
jamesintexas rating: *** 1/2
Coco wears its heart on its sleeve and builds a wondrous universe in its story of a young boy's negotiation with his relationship with his family and his ancestors in a small village in Mexico. In post-Trump America, Coco's beauty shines even more brightly, especially considering that it is Pixar's first foray into telling a story with a Mexican protagonist, and its strong choices result in an emotional juggernaut with flourishes and artistic grace.
Coco's storytelling and textures build and build into graceful, moving shots of the spirit world visiting the world of the living. It is surprising and warm, and Miguel's journey is one that I am excited to revisit again and again. The film's music seems sure to earn the Oscar for Best Song (which it did!), and its undeniably tear-filled climax features "Remember Me" and the intersection of generations in a way that should appeal to everyone.
Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) does not want to make shoes in his Mexican village per his family tradition. Instead, he prefers to play guitar, idolizing the music of the great Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt) to the great consternation of Mama Imelda (Alanna Ubach) and the other elders of the family who have forbid music from their lives. Miguel's devotion to his music and de la Cruz leads to steal de la Cruz's guitar and thus entering a portal into the land of the dead! In robust, rich colors, Miguel searches for his hero amidst the borderlands of the dead and the living, a bridge where one may only cross provided that their photo is remembered on an ofrenda by a family member. Miguel crosses paths with the wayward Hector (Gabriel Garcia Bernal), a guitarist in danger himself of being forgotten, and their alliance leads them to the doors of de la Cruz, a Gatsby-esque host of the undead, with lights, pools, music, and lavishness. All the while, Miguel's ancestors search for him and hope to return him to the land of the living before he is permanently transformed.
Pixar's glorious attention to detail shines in the lingering shots of the Land of the Dead, with its floating castles and building, trains and skeletons, all set to a wondrous score. I have watched this film many, many more times in finishing this review because my children love it so, and I think that the ideas behind so many of the scenes are just beautiful. An adventure film with your own ancestors? Alebrijes swooping from the sky in magical majesty? The swirling sounds of "Poco Loco" as Miguel begins to find his voice? And the powerful ending with its earned tears? Coco delivers maximum entertainment and maximum heart. The worst thing about it was the Olaf commercial/short film that ran before it. Everything else was grand and nearly perfect.
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