I'm not going to repeat myself with the history of Pixar because everybody knows that they are the top animation studio, if not one of the best studios, ever. Mostly, the animators and the storytellers know how to craft a story real well in their sublime animation. But, we do not get many stories surrounding the Day of the Dead when in Mexican culture, families honor and remember their dead ancestors. It is not familiar to many people outside of the Mexican culture but a similar movie, The Book of Life, had a similar upbringing and it turned out to be a solid movie even though it did not too many emotional beats. I had solid expectations going into this movie and wanted it to be a good animated movie in a weak year of animated movies, however, I did not expect Coco to be this good. To get to the point, it is easily the best animated movie of the year.
Once upon a time in Mexico, a woman named Imelda (voiced by Alanna Ubach) fell in love with a talented musician but he left his family to pursue his dream, leaving Imelda to take care of her daughter on her own. Because she was so angry at the musician, Imelda forbade music from her family and started a tradition making shoes. We jump forward to Miguel Rivera (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) who lives with Mom and Dad (voiced by Sofia Espinosa and Jaime Camil) and his Abuela Elena (voiced by Renee Victor) and her mother, Mama Coco (voiced by Ana Ofelia Murguia), who was Imelda's daughter. Elena carries on the music ban throughout the family.
Miguel's idol is Ernesto De La Cruz (voiced by Benjamin Brett), a famous singer/guitar player who died in a bell accident. As Miguel was telling a story to a mariachi player, who tells him that there is a music competition in the town during Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the mariachi player gives Miguel a chance to play the guitar until Elena arrives angrily and shoos the player away with her sandal. Miguel befriends a street dog whose named Danté by the offering that families leave their ancestors. Also, Miguel goes to his secret spot to get his guitar for the competition but it is missing and all of his La Cruz memorabilia. Abuela destroys his guitar and sends Miguel crying and running away into town. Also, Miguel finds the tomb of Ernesto and sneaks in and plays the guitar. Once he does, a light flashes as a couple of guards notice it and walk through him. Miguel sees all of the skeletons and is transported into the Land of the Dead, where his family cannot see him.
There is so much insight into Mexican culture and the animation feels alive and authentic as you feel like you are living in that era and breathing the air and also smelling the food: fajitas, tamales, frijoles con arroz, you name it. I believe that this is the best depiction and portrayal of Mexican culture and characters ever put on-screen but if you want realistic, watch the movie called My Family, that movie has a great outlook as to what a Mexican family is portrayed on-screen, except one moment. Anyway, I digress. I cannot praise the animation heavily enough because I think it is one of the beautifully animated movies I have ever seen as it is both detailed in its computerized characters and also the emotional drive in some ways.
Will people cry in this movie? Yes. I am not going to reveal whether I cried or not but I'll leave that I was more moved in the final 10-15 minutes than anticipated because it earns that emotion once you learn the truth behind his ancestors and some of the culture. I was worried about the use of comedy in this movie because I find some of the comedy to be distracting in its marketing as it made fun of the dead during the holiday. But, no, it does not insult the dead in any way as they are living their own lives in the after life and the humor makes it more natural and there's enough to balance it out with the personal family conflicts, which is the drama.
Lee Unkrich is the director of this movie which is no surprise since his last directorial effort was Toy Story 3. I truly admire his approach to characters as they are not cartoonish but real people you see in everyday life. (Yes, I know a grandma who threatens people with her sandals. They exist. It is not one-dimensional.) But, he, again, balances authentic and realistic emotion with searing and gorgeous animation to fully captivate you into another world that could encourage you to watch the whole movie again and with your family. And, that's another thing: it is a movie to watch your family but also it is another movie that adults themselves can enjoy. Michael Giacchino is having a great year with his scores along with this movie, Spider-Man Homecoming and War for the Planet of the Apes. He marries both his talents and the Mexican flavor with such greatness. This movie is a lovely tribute and tapestry to the Mexican culture and traditions that creates such great musical harmony and emotional depth. You'll laugh, you'll weep, you'll be glad that you had a great experience with Coco.
****
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