Beautiful Mexican Story about Family

Rating: 8/10 (26 November 2017)

People complain that Pixar has stuck making sequels for the rest of the decade, but to those still upset about that, check out this delightful motion picture on the holiday of Dia de los Muertos, Coco. Is it the companies' latest crowning achievement? No, but it's still a solid flick worth watching with beautiful music, charming characters, gorgeous animation and a well rounded message about family.
The way the movie establishes the heart of Mexican music is brilliant, and directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina drive Mexican iconography and music to new heights. The small town our main hero Miguel and the Rivera family resides in feels genuine, complete with several possible in-jokes and cultural nods Mexican natives may find amusing. As for the Rivera family, their history is set up well as the story's central conflict. This is what makes the main protagonist Miguel worth rooting for as we understand his dreams in spite of what his family thinks and wish for him to succeed.
On top of that, the animation is the usual Pixar glory, as it looks vibrant, bright, and crystal clear. Alongside the familiar Pixar character designs, the Land of the Dead that Miguel ends up in contains so much detail and whimsy that even the smallest details are worth praising.
And then there are the musical numbers, which range from upbeat to downright heart wrenching. Not only do the songs give the characters a chance to shine, along with some neat choreography, but most if not all of them serve the stories' main theme of never forgetting those you once loved. The best contributor is Remember Me, which I hope is at least nominated for an Oscar.
As for the other characters, the best out of all of them is the skeleton Hector who accompanies Miguel on his journey. While the team up trope has been done in Pixar many times, the filmmakers add some more layers to the skeleton than his bones. Not to mention, the way he walks and moves is nothing short of accurate and cute with how his bones jangle. Most of the other characters aren't worth talking about, as they can range from obstacles for Miguel to just background characters.
In terms of negatives, Coco does follow a rather predictable storyline and it's not hard to figure out what might happen, but on the other hand the film does add some unique elements here and there to keep the audience invested. To quote Stefan Ellison of the Scene Magaizine, "The climax also seems to create multiple conclusions, stretching it out with one obvious trick after another." Also, there is a Deus ex Machina in this film...then again, any movie has that, so why am I surprised?
Overall, while it has its predictable story tropes, Coco is still a well done entry into Pixar's catalogue with its lavish animation, breathtaking songs, fun characters, and great message about family. Even if you have your fair share of family members you don't like, you shouldn't forget them entirely because there's a good chance they may have shaped your life for the better. Remember that, and enjoy this movie for its musical wonder and sense of adventure with that message mixed in.