Coco (2017)

Coco

Written by Adrian Molina & Matthew Aldrich

Directed by Lee Unkrich

Accompanying Short: Olaf’s Frozen Adventure

Written by Jac Schaeffer

Directed by Kevin Deters & Stevie Wermers

Just a few films to go on this list, and we’ve reached the last one I’d seen before starting the list. While I struggle to connect with the film from a heritage standpoint, Coco does an amazing job of handling a complicated topic in a way that is both visually appealing and emotionally honest.

The gang’s all here in this “short” from Walt Disney Animation Studios

I’ve been reviewing the shorts that come before each film, and while this is no exception, labelling Olaf’s Frozen Adventure as a “short” is really straining credibility. Clocking in at an astounding 21 minutes, Olaf’s is no short…it’s an episode of TV, sans commercials. Once again, the cardinal sin of sidekick-dom is broken, as Olaf becomes the central character in this quest to discover what Anna and Elsa’s holiday traditions were/are...FOR 21 MINUTES. 21 minutes that includes six songs (YES, REALLY. SIX OF THEM). It’s an “everything-and-the-kitchen-sink” deal, and for what? It honestly just feels like a way to say “HEY DON’T FORGET ABOUT THIS MOVIE THAT YOU’VE JUST BARELY STOPPED BELTING OUT AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS THREE YEARS AFTER ITS RELEASE GO BUY MORE TOYS TELL YOUR PARENTS”. Am I exaggerating? A bit. But seriously, if you want a short that continues the story of Frozen better, check out Frozen Fever.

(Okay, but actually the art direction is again really fantastic, particularly the christmas tree that Elsa creates. It’s that type of art direction that I really missed from Frozen II).

Miguel begins his journey to the Land of the Dead

As I mentioned, I have no real heritage connection to Coco: I’ve never celebrated Día de los Muertos, and my family has never really discussed the subject of death (we’re not even all that religious). So I struggled (well, and still do, a little bit) with the cultural aspect of the film, only because I have no real connection to it. That is definitely not to say that I didn’t find it fascinating, and I was very happy that the film chose to explain quite a bit about the holiday (although I would be curious as to what the film gets right or wrong about the actual celebration of it). If there is one great thing to take away from the film (and trust me, there is much more than just one), it’s that the film has made me more interested in exploring the holiday and its traditions.

Abuelita taking matters into her own hands to stop the influence of music on young Miguel

It was honestly very refreshing to see an animated film, featuring humans, who DIDN’T look or sound like me. There were little details sprinkled in that I had heard about culturally, but so many others that I just found very interesting. It made me more interested in learning, which I think is something that all great films are able to accomplish.

Miguel tries to escape from an alabrije in the beautifully designed Land of the Dead

The design of the film is jaw-dropping, with the Land of the Dead being rendered gorgeously. This film is just beautiful to look at, even without the context of what you’re seeing (which is not a way I recommend to see this film, but anyway). The alabrije in particular are stunningly animated, and I really cannot overstate just how wonderfully visual this film is. Another major highlight of the film is the music: from “Un Poco Loco”, to “Proud Corazón”, to, of course, “Remember Me”, the songs are all perfectly matched for the film. Most of them got my feet tapping, which isn’t so surprising considering the large role that music plays in the plot.

Miguel meets his family in the Land of the Dead

What surprised me the most was just how emotional the film made me feel. Death is obviously a very sensitive subject, and quite honestly, one I don’t like to think about: the concept of our own mortality is terrifying to me. I also will admit to feeling that, because the culture was different than my own, that I wasn’t going to connect to it and therefore not feel anything. Well, as we know, death is universal, so the responses are similar, if not the same: it doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you believe in, the loss of a loved one is incredibly difficult. The film’s climax is very emotional to anyone who has lost, and perhaps that’s the best strength of the film…it transcends culture, beliefs, and borders and shows us the power of love, and reminds us that, as long as we hold them in our memories, our loved ones never truly leave us.

SHORT GRADE: C+

FILM GRADE: A+