Now it is…Review Time!
Before I begin, I watched this on December 28th 2017 and I apologize for only doing the review now.
With gorgeous visuals, fun and intriguing characters, an emotional story, and familiar but touching themes about family and death, “Coco” is an utterly charming animated treat, one of the Pixar greats, as well as an instant favourite of mine.
Miguel: “And if I want to get back to the Land of the Living, I need De La Cruz’s blessing.”
Héctor: “That’s weirdly specific.”
Despite his family’s generation-old ban of music, 12-year-old Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) wants nothing more than to be a musician. He is then magically transported to the Land of the Dead where he meets the charming trickster Héctor (voiced by Golden Globe winner Gael García Bernal), and together they set out to find his great-great-grandfather, who just happens to be a musician.
Pros:
Animation:
Simply stunning.
Cast:
According to my research and opinion, an all-out and awesome Latino cast.
Mixture of Emotion:
You’ll be laughing one second then getting choked up the next.
Respect to Mexican Culture:
The filmmakers traveled to Mexico for research, and seem to have done an amazing job capturing the spirit of Mexican culture, and especially the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos, which in Spanish means “The Day of the Dead.”
Story:
Although the plot is slightly similar to another related film “The Book of Life” (2014), there is more intensity when it comes to the heartfelt moments. As previously said, emotional, beautiful, and intriguing with inspiration from the aforementioned Mexican holiday.
Song Numbers:
Delightful. One of my favourites is “Un Poco Loco” (A Little Crazy), a song you probably can’t stop smiling about.
Twists:
Whether you see it coming or not, the execution is superb.
Vocal performances:
Excellent. Particular praise goes to Gonzalez, García Bernal and Primetime Emmy nominee Benjamin Bratt.
Cons:
Predictability:
As the narrative continues, you may know how it ends, which will not be spoiled here.
On an extra note, my cry count for this film was 2.
Overall, a must-see for animation and/or Disney/Pixar fans, highly recommended to children and adults alike, and easily one of the best films of 2017.
