I’ve never been on board the Pixar hype train, not really. Sure, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles are all classics, and there are a lot of other good ones. But I’ve always thought that Toy Story, Wall-E, and Up (after the first ten minutes) were overrated, and – coming from someone who’s not an animation nerd – I just don’t subscribe to the near universal belief that Pixar has always made consistently great films. Plus, it seems now that Pixar has stuck both hands deep inside the sequel honeypot, so I’ve been more than ready to write off Pixar for a while now.
Well, I am happier than Joy from Inside Out that Pixar has taken a break from making the fifteenth Cars movie to come up with Coco, which is an absolute gem.
The characters are so fleshed out and so genuinely endearing, and the imagined underworld is so rich and realized. Miguel, the 12 year old protangonist, is a real-life kid, in the way he messes around, the way he talks and sings, and stays interesting and likeable when it would be so easy to become too whiny and annoying. The family struggles and the relationships are so real, and the different positions of the family are so understandable, as are the resulting emotions. Coco also does a masterful job at world-building, not relying only on the stunning visuals and delightful music, but remains grounded in its top notch writing and storytelling.
The central conflict of the film was so relatable. Although this is a film that uncompromisingly celebrates Latino culture, it really stands out as a flagship movie for all of American minority culture, and a damn good one at that. It is so specific to its culture – the way it unapologetically throws out Spanish words without translation, the way one speaks Spanglish in real life, and the way the abuelita treats her grandson – but still invites friends and strangers alike to share and learn about the movie, its meaning, and its attendant subculture without at all whitewashing it (Pocohantas, Aladdin, I’m looking at you). In a word, it’s authentic while still being inclusive.
All the little thoughtful touches make me, as a minority, feel like it was a movie that I could actually relate to my own life and my own relationships. Miguel’s quandary is something that any child of an immigrant understands – balancing the desire for your own independence and your family obligations and commitments. And I absolutely loved how the film not only approached this but reconciles this conflict at the end, recognizing the importance of both and instead of choosing one over the other, opts for a nuanced solution in seeking harmony between the two – so rare for an American film.
This movie is also hauntingly beautiful both visually and musically, and really needs to be seen in theatres to be fully appreciated. I would have thought that the alebrijes would be schlocky, and that the day of the dead setup and traditions might have been too obscure and unfamiliar, but it really works as they get it just right. The music, too, is not what I would have anticipated liking (mariachi style?), but it’s quirky and catchy and memorable and you can’t help but have it on repeat. Coco combines the likeability and musical catchiness of prime Disney, the charm, heart and humor of the best of Pixar, and the breathtaking fantasy elements of Miyazaki
It goes without saying that to make all this work, the execution is nearly flawless. The set up for the big twist was pretty foreseeable, but when revealed to the characters it is so real and impactful, and the viewer is so invested at that point, that you are 100% on board. Finally, it hits all the emotional beats at the height of the third act juuust right. There were definitely 2-3 times where it was getting real dusty in the theatre. The only complaint I can think of is that the dog Dante is pure slapstick, but while that didn’t add anything in the movie for me, it didn’t detract from it, and I get that you’ve got to have something in there for the younger kids.
This movie has stayed with me, and the second viewing is even better and more enjoyable in soaking in the richness and detail of the filmmaking and the storytelling, instead of trying to figure out what will happen. Best of all, the payoff still hits you just as hard.
The best way to describe this movie is well-balanced. It is substantive and weighty without being burdensome, funny without being overbearing, emotional without being sappy or depressing. It is all at once grounded yet inspiring, realistic yet hopeful. This safely gets in my top 3 movies of 2017, and for my money, is the best Pixar film yet (possibly only challenged by The Incredibles), and an instant classic.
