Review of Coco (2017) by Kelly H — 12 Dec 2018

The latest Pixar film, Coco, proved to be a real hit, which was a refreshing change in the recent companies' performance. Fans and critics have been very disappointed with the production of the latest releases from Pixar due to the fact that the company seems to heading more into the corporate world with not much originality or uniqueness, consequentially compromising quality. For example, "Cars 3" and "Finding Dory" were films that attempted to squeeze too much out of the original content of their "parent films". Coco perfectly depicts the struggles and potential rewards for chasing your childhood dreams in the moment and not waiting for them to come to you by chance. It proved to be just what viewers needed to get Pixar up and going again with new original content.

If we go back in time and look at recent Pixar films, we see that every cultural film Pixar has created has been a great success. Clearly this could have some controversy with the more sensitive viewers, however, Pixar went out on a limb and experimented with the cultures that were so unfamiliar to viewers who had been so used to American films with American families and American story lines, which is all Pixar had done up until this cultural spike. While Moana, Frozen, and Brave all focus on depicting one specific culture, Coco continues that trend, but starts new with fresh content and a well-thought-out plot.

Coco drew large crowds not only here in the United States, but also in Mexico being the highest grossing movie ever in their country. The film stars a 12-year-old Hispanic boy who aspires to be a talented musician just like his late great-great-grandfather, who ended up leaving his family behind. Miguel wants nothing more than to follow in his great-great-grandfather's footsteps and live the life of fame and fortune for the love of music. His family, however, has other plans for him in the family owned and operated shoe shop. Miguel is inspired by the American Dream of blazing your own trail. The whole family despises music because of the lasting negative effect it had on their family in tearing them apart from the beginning. Miguel loves his family, however, he decides to chase his biggest goal by one day becoming the talented musician his great-great-grandfather was.

Many children love the movie due to the subtle laughs from the dog, Dante. Aside from the kicks and giggles, Coco teaches young kids to chase their dreams, even if other people don't believe in them. Many kids these days have a clear vision of what they want out of life, however, with all the negativity and tainted views in the world today, kids often lose those lofty dreams and visions of what they had aspired to do and settle for mediocrity at best. Miguel strives to conquer the status quo while battling issues with his family; living and deceased. He still proves that he has what it takes to achieve whatever he wants in life, such as walking in the footsteps of his idol and hero Ernesto de la Cruz.

Pixar put a very personable touch to the movie when they depicted the generosity of the Hispanic people. I had the opportunity to work with Hispanic people for a couple years and "Coco" exemplifies those positive, loving aspects of the culture so well. Miguel's "abuela" is the typical Hispanic grandma who loves to cook, does it extremely well, and makes sure nobody goes home without a full stomach! Hispanic people will often give you the shirt off their backs just to make you feel loved. This personal touch really drives home the nature of the culture. With similar subtle but powerful examples, Coco is relatable to anyone who is familiar with the culture of the wonderful Latin-American people.

There is no shortage of mesmerizing colors in this movie either! Pixar went all out as they perfectly depicted the common love Hispanics share for bright colors. With "Dia de los Muertos", characters in the movie show love to their loved ones that have passed on by decorating the resting place with bright vibrant colors. These bright colors are a staple in the Hispanic culture as they continue to even paint their houses in these vibrant, eye-catching tones.

The film is not one that is easy to predict. Pixar keeps you on the edge of your seat as you experience the story line and plot while never really knowing what's around the next bend. It will especially catch you off guard when the massive, multicolored dragon, or an Alebrije, comes flying in! The dragon, Pepita, shows viewers that not even a large, mythical dragon can stop Miguel from chasing his dreams. "Dia de los Muertos" is a way for people to not fear death as much as people had in the past. Having a close connection with people who have passed on is a great way to ensure yourself that you, also, will have company after you pass on.

Miguel, his dog Dante, and his late skeleton friend, Hector, journey along through the "spirit world" as they try to find people who can help them get into the Land of the Dead. At the end of the long journey, they find that the Land of the Dead is a much more happy, joyful place than many people think. This gives viewers confidence in the life after this one. With the added hope that you can continue to chase your dreams in the life after this, ensure viewers to never set small goals or low expectations. Pixar took a great risk in setting a children's film in a place full of dead people! In the end, however, it proved to us that death is something that we should not fear.

All-in-all, Pixar made a great comeback after disappointing viewers with the last two productions, Cars and Finding Dory. This gave the typical American a good taste of Spanish culture and how truly generous those people are. Coco proved to be just what they needed to keep people happy dead or alive. With the humor, messages, and overarching theme to never stop believing in who you may one day become, Coco is a must see for all.