Disney’s ‘Soul’ Is the Modern-Day Animated Version Of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
By: Ken Yeung
Tags: Movies, Disney, Movie Review, Entertainment, Culture

Image credit: Walt Disney Studios

December 25 is when you’d expect to watch films with a family-friendly tone, ones in which it celebrates the holiday season and encourages us to cherish what we have. For me, some must-see movies include “A Christmas Story”, “The Polar Express”, and “It’s a Wonderful Life”. It’s the last one where I think the modern-day version has just been released.

Released exclusively on Disney+ on Christmas day, “Soul” is an extraordinary animated film from Pixar, directed by filmmaker Pete Docter, and written by Docter, Mike Jones and Kemp Powers. It stars Jamie Foxx as Joe Gardner, a jazz musician who has spent his life trying to make it big as a professional performer but feels that landing a full-time job as a music teacher is just settling. After landing his big break, Gardner encounters a tragic end and finds himself in the after-life. But refusing to concede his death, he struggles to get back to earth — and his body — while trying to help a young soul, called 22 which is played by the talented Tina Fey, figure out what her “spark” is so she can start living herself.

You can probably figure out the rest of “Soul’s” storyline from here.

This film is an absolute delight to watch and seeing it on Christmas forces me to reflect on what life is and what we’re meant to do on this planet. From the incredible plot, the all-star cast, music, and animation (both in the “reality” and also in the after-life where there are two different creative styles), you’re drawn into the development of both Foxx and Fey’s characters in a very comical and empathetic way.

To me, “Soul” is similar to Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” in that it centers on the protagonist’s view of life. While Peter Bailey’s perspective that life would be better if he wasn’t born is different than Gardner’s thoughts on what his purpose in life is, the conclusion that they find their lives even better in the end and that they’ve helped a supernatural being — Clarence and 22 — find themselves is very similar. Ultimately, it’s my thoughts that “Soul” is the modern-day take on the classic film, though recognize that maybe it could just be the same message but with a different plotline attached. Either way, they’re both enjoyable movies and hopefully the Disney version could wind up being held in high regard as “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

The release of “Soul” near the end of a cesspool of a year such as 2020 is welcome since people often think about New Year’s resolutions around this time, opting to make a change in their lives. But Disney’s movie encourages us to think deeper and to wonder what it is that “sparks” life. It’s not a specific profession or passion that we’re meant to have, but something more philosophical in nature. The film suggests that life is not like a Dungeons & Dragons character where you assign attributes to it — it’s not that basic, as taken from one line in the movie. Instead, it’s about figuring out what you like about life and living it to its maximum potential.

You can watch “Soul” exclusively on Disney+.

Updated on 12/27: Post has been amended to clarify the director and the writers of the movie.