Coco - Review Thread

Call me a jaded twenty-something, but I really just don't get interested in a majority of family fare.  While stories for all ages can certainly be compelling and a welcome change of pace from more intense subject matter, they mostly don't come close to the complex storylines and themes that I crave and that adult-oriented films are more likely to cover.  Having said that, I find myself every year eagerly anticipating the next Pixar film.  I've seen all of them aside from Cars 2, Cars 3, and The Good Dinosaur, mostly because I've heard all of them are the worst Pixar has to offer, and ever since seeing Toy Story in 1995 it's been clear that when it comes to animated fare, Pixar is far ahead of its competitors.  Before Pixar films you get previews for other animated films, and most if not all of them look absolutely abysmal.  Their storylines are embarrassingly derivative and the jokes mostly consist of tired slapstick routines all resulting in what I assume must be Hell for parents to take their children to.  Pixar though has always offered something for all ages, truly, and I'm a staunch supporter of their work and the consistent quality they embody.  Their latest film, Coco, is another unique step for the company to take, this time centering on Mexican culture and more specifically the Dia de los Muertos celebration.  While Coco doesn't rank among Pixar's finest efforts, it's a fun romp with its heart in the right place and dazzling visuals to take in that marks another solid outing by the acclaimed studio.

Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) is a young boy living a simple existence in a small Mexican village with his family.  Miguel's family has been shoemakers by trade for generations and have banned all music from their lives after the matriarch of the dynasty was abandoned by her musician husband.  This is deeply distressing to Miguel, whose one true passion in life is music, and he idolizes famed Mexican singer Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt).  After an argument with his family, Miguel sneaks into the tomb of de la Cruz, and when making contact with his famed guitar becomes dead, sort of.  Miguel floats in this odd limbo between the living and the dead, and soon he's come across by his deceased relatives whom he recognizes from the pictorial memorial the family keeps.  In order to return to the living world, Miguel must acquire a blessing from a family member, but his family claims he must give up music to do so.  Miguel balks at this, and upon assuming to be related to his idol, de la Cruz, sets out on a mission with newfound pal Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal) to find him.

Coco's greatest strengths rest in its vibrant portrayal of the Dia de los Muertos festivities and Mexican culture in general.  We're treated to colorful visuals of dancing skeletons, flashing lights across great distances, and of course a steady dose of music all celebrating a culture not often depicted in Hollywood fare, at least not in this fashion.  Miguel's adventure takes him from one spectacular place to another, and the world building and attention to detail here is as impressive as any of Pixar's works even if there is a sense that we're just whisking from one place to another for the sake of getting to de la Cruz's place as opposed to being pulled by subplots or other characters.  What Coco lacks in overall substance it more than makes up for in its portrayal of the festivities and the impressive world that it's crafted.

Coco certainly has its issues though, namely in the laughs and plot departments.  Miguel's adventure is fun in regards to all the sights and vibrant festivities going on around him, but I felt myself getting a bit bored by the end of it all because it just felt so routine.  There aren't many standout sequences along the way, and we hardly encounter any characters outside of Miguel's family.  This also makes the plot incredibly predictable, especially in regards to its twist which if you can't figure out almost immediately you might be Pixar's target audience.  I'm not trying to take credit for figuring out the twist in a family film, nor am I trying to dwell too much on its villain's contrived storyline, but this is a Pixar film after all, and I feel like we can expect better.  It's a film loaded with one convenience after another, and while Coco's heart is surely in the right place and tells a charming tale about the importance of family and remembering those who paved the way for you, it really could've benefitted from a plot as spectacular as its visuals and world.  Coco also is far from the funniest effort by Pixar, and really doesn't have a lot to offer smaller children to keep them amused.  There's not really any comic relief character, except Miguel's dog who doesn't speak, and while there are certainly some clever jokes I chuckled at, nothing really stands out comedically either.  Coco is still an enjoyable ride, but I can't see any reason to return to the film again in the future.

Boasting incredible visuals and an insightful look into a culture often ignored by mainstream cinema, Coco is a delightful film that is sure to please its viewers despite its shortcomings in plot.  It won't go down as one of Pixar's most memorable efforts, but even lesser Pixar is far superior to what most family fare has to offer.  Coco presents an endearing message about celebrating family, culture, and dreams, and it's a fun journey worth taking at least once.

7/10