COCO – Rated PG – 1 hr 49 mins
Starring the voice talents of Benjamin Bratt, Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Renee Victor and Ana Ofelia Murguia
Disney and Pixar take us on an unbelievably beautiful adventure in to the culture and heritage of the Mexican people…as we meet the exceptionally talented and very head-strong Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez), trying to overcome his families ban on music, as he longs for nothing more than to play his guitar every second of every day…
Drawn to his heritage, but longing to play his music too, Miguel thinks he may have found out his ancestry…and to find out the truth, he must venture into the land of the dead…
As his family searches for him, Miguel is determined to not return from the land of the dead until he knows all of the answers of why he is forbidden to play music, as it comes so natural for him…
When the tales of his ancestors unfold, and he finally meets his musical hero Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt) who has passed away, his family from the past, and here in the present, manage to give him the insight he needs to reach his true calling in life, as he makes his way back into the world of the living…
I give COCO a rating between MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN and WAIT AND CATCH THIS DISNEY/PIXAR FILM ON DVD: In true DISNEY/PIXAR fashion, even taking an ancestral stroll into the land of the dead can become a beautiful testament to life, and our destiny within it. As you journey into this particular tale of Mexican culture, you will find moments of both sheer delight, and utter sadness, playing out on the big screen. As we have become accustomed to find within many Disney storylines as well, COCO has one of those dark and demented storylines that some children might find a little scary, and very cruel at times. But even with its darker messages throughout, COCO also is one of the most beautifully animated Pixar PIXAR creators have produced. Amongst it’s many frames are some of the most beautiful images they have created thus far. I got a sense along the way that a new ride was put to life within its images for EPCOT in the years to come as well…as this film is perfectly laid out to transition into the latest new attraction within EPCOT’s present Mexican landscape. But even with all its sentimental storylines and exceptionally created beauty of the Mexican landscape, its people, and their beliefs, I still felt that it fell short of a MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN review, because of much of its darker content. And I’m not sure either why Disney didn’t release it here in the US simultaneously with their release in Mexico at Halloween, as it might have given this film a much more palatable tale, being shared at the appropriate time of year…
Kathy Kaiser
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 