Disney·Pixar’s Coco Review
Hey There!
A few weeks ago my family and I were invited to an advance screening of Disney·Pixar’s Coco at no cost. So… what did we think? Read on!
The story begins with Miguel, a boy who dreams of becoming a musician, but faces massive family objection. He idolizes the sauve and great Ernesto de la Cruz, a master of guitar. On this Dia de los Muertos, he discovers Ernesto de la Cruz is actually his great-great grandfather! When Miguel strums Ernesto’s guitar, he is transported to the land of the dead, where his adventures begin.
Check out the official trailer here-
The film is quite obviously visually stunning, and a pleasure to watch. I loved the hat tip to Mexican artists, even Frida Kahlo makes an appearance. I also loved that the film wasn’t strictly in English, the characters drop in Spanish phrases and nouns, but not in a way that makes it hard to understand. There is a tremendous opportunity for fans of the film to learn more about Mexican art, heritage and language.
At first I thought the storyline was going to be very linear, but it makes some unexpected turns. The storyline is well-thought and interesting.
Coco brings out all of the emotions, as most great Disney·Pixar films do. I wasn’t expecting to cry, but there I was in the theater, tears rolling down my face. I will say however, that it was a “good” cry. If you cried during Disney·Pixar’s Up, there is no hope for you, just bring the tissues!
From a kid perspective, my five year-old gave it two thumbs up. She even asked for a Coco-themed guitar for Christmas. I was concerned that since the subject matter is Dia de los Muertos, that it might be scary for her, but this wasn’t the case at all. I can think of quite a few other Disney movies with scarier scenes. I wouldn’t hesitate to bring younger kids.
Overall, I would highly recommend Coco. It’s a fun film to watch, entertaining, and hopefully gives a new perspective on Mexican culture. Personally, I can’t wait to watch it again, so I can find additional fine details and references to Mexican art. I’m an art docent at my daughter’s school, and had already planned a lesson on Frida Kahlo. With Coco, I’ll be able to make an immediate connection with kids who have seen the film. I’m impressed with the educational opportunities wrapped in entertainment. This is a movie that has the opportunity to change perspectives, and influence how we celebrate Dia de los Muertos in America. Most importantly, it’s a lot of fun and exciting to watch.
So, go see Coco! Our family loved it, and hopefully yours will too!
As a bonus, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure plays in front of Coco, which is one more reason to see the movie. Now, our advance screening did not include this short, but it looks super cute. It’s approx. 21 minutes long and includes four new original songs.
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Enjoy!