Movies: Coco

Recently, Pixar's been alternating between unnecessary, commercially-driven sequels ("Finding Dory" being the most egregious example), and emotionally satisfying original pictures. I guess I don't mind, given that the studio used to only put out a movie every couple years anyway, but it does mean that you have to stay alert for when they release something noteworthy, like "Coco":


Like last year's excellent "Moana," the movie is a deep dive into a specific real-world culture: Mexico and its famous Day of the Dead.  Our hero is Miguel, a young boy who grows up in a music-hating family.  When he "borrows" a guitar from the grave of legendary musician Ernesto de la Cruz, Miguel finds himself sucked into the world of the dead. His only chance of escape? Tracking down de la Cruz and proving himself a real musician.

It's a bonkers premise, one part Grim Fandango and one part Crossroads, but it works because of the strong characters on display. Miguel faces a genuine conflict between his family and his passion for music, and in his struggle to reconcile the two, he shows a lot more maturity than the typical headstrong Disney youths you might be conditioned to seeing. Some cracking Mexican music doesn't hurt, either, with traditional Pixar composer Michael Giacchino collaborating with dozens of Mexican composers and musicians to get it right.

Rating: 8/10