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Coco

Hamnah Asif
Dec 24, 2017
2 min read

Rating 8/10

Directed by Lee Unkrich

Starring

Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel

Benjamin Bratt as Ernesto de la Cruz

Renee Victor as Abuelita

Ana Ofelia Murguía as Mamá Coco

Coco is a film that’s very reliant on a strong but slightly complicated plot. It’s easy to follow, because of the information we’re fed throughout the film, but what truly carries it through is that classic Pixar touchy feely element.

Lively twelve year old Miguel, a kid who desires to be a musician, unfortunately belongs to a family of shoemakers who disdain music. A couple of generations prior, Miguel's great-great-grandfather left his family to seek music as a profession, and his descendants have been attempting to eradicate him from their past from that point onward. Miguel's great-grandmother, Coco is the only one that recalls him, and her memory is blurring quick.

Caught between his dreams and his faithfulness to his family, Miguel tries to seek the previous while keeping the latter unaware of what's going on. But when his tyrannical grandma finds his guitar and crushes it, Miguel ends up without any instrument and no real way to participate in an upcoming talent show in the neighbouring Mariachi Square.

Accordingly, on a dark evening amid the yearly Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration, Miguel takes into the tomb of the town's incredible mariachi Ernesto de la Cruz, planning to steal the icon's renowned guitar from his tomb. But as he hits his first chord, the instrument transports him to the Land of the Dead.

To return home, Miguel needs to get the blessings of a predecessor. He chooses to search out the one predecessor who may be somewhat more thoughtful to his situation: his great-great-grandfather. His journey begins, amid dancing skeletons and a brilliant soundtrack.

Coco turns into a beautiful and engaging trip through both the Land of the Dead and the rich social custom encompassing the Mexican Dia de los Muertos holiday. Consistent with Pixar’s frame, Coco enriches its dense narration with splendid visuals that energize the creative imagination and for this situation honour the Mexican culture. This is truly an awesome film to watch and experience, both in narrative and soulfulness.

It’s good to see Pixar’s return to form, finally creating new original concepts instead of shoe horned sequels like Cars 3 or Finding Dory. Coco draws on Mexican culture and best of all, doesn’t get lost in the often complex plot. The film remains very much centred around Miguel, a fun character to watch and follow through out.

Coco is an ambitious movie, exploring characters, tradition, music, legacy, plenty of themes that kids movies are often obtuse to. The script is so strong and carries the film through, making Coco yet another in Pixar’s long line of hits.

If you liked Coco, watch The Book of Life which follows the story of a bullfighter who, on the Day of the Dead, sets out on an afterlife adventure to satisfy the desires of his family and companions.