Review of Coco (2017) by Ken C — 23 Feb 2018

Coco celebrates life by diving into death. It is one of Pixar's most vibrant, melancholic adventure is a refreshing return to form.

Coco is the story of a 12-year-old Mexican-American boy, Miguel Rivera (Anthony Gonzalez), who finds himself in the land of the dead, after breaking a decades-old family rule about playing music. The film riffs heavily on the Mexican festival Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), with its traditionally vibrant imagery of brightly coloured skeletons. In this flamboyant netherworld, our young hero sets out on a journey to expose a secret from his family's past. This, it is heavily hinted, will centre on the famous musician Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), who just happens to be Miguel's idol.

Although it has a predictable plot elements in a Pixar playbook, the script does manage one genuinely surprising twist in the third act. As the final stretch approaches, there's also the requisite tug at the heartstrings although it's delivered with such devastating delicacy that even steely viewers will find themselves moist-eyed. Coco is a rousing, affecting, fun and much-needed return to form after underwhelming Finding Nemo and Cars sequels and will help to ensure that Pixar's legacy remains intact.