Just imagine if your family beat down your dream at every turn. And I mean your extended family. Parents, grandparents, cousins, the whole enchilada.
That’s the plight of poor Miguel, the centerpiece of Coco, the latest in the line of Pixar animation.
This kid is in love with music. Unfortunately, there’s a link to the past with making such sounds that has turned it to something forbidden. Fortunately, this kid has pluck. So he hides a found guitar, searches that family history and what he finds …
Makes for a pretty scary trip to the Land of the Dead.
Yes, this tale directed by Lee Unkrich and co-directed by Adrian Molina from a screenplay by Molina and Matthew Aldrich can be pretty dark for young kids, if you’re thinking of a family sit-around the flat screen to take in the big-time animation. Even with the huge splashes of color and grand production values expected by Disney’s animation offshoot, skeletons come-to-action dealing with a human boy who’s crossed the bridge, well, that can be daunting.
Yet the beating heart of the story wins out as Miguel, aided by his spirit pet and friends he finds up there, discovers truths that may indeed set his soul free and much more when he gets back to that big group waiting back down at home.
Anthony Rodriguez does a great job voicing the kid. In fact, all of the voices are quite good as Pixar ventures into the Latin culture with flourish. The list of Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, Jaime Camil, Alfonso Arau, Sofía Espinosa, Selene Luna, Ana Ofelia Murguia, Renee Victor, Luis Valdez, Herbert Siguenza, Carla Medina and Edward James Olmos likely has only a couple of names immediately recognizable in the mainstream – at least to me, Bratt and Olmos jump right out for their long line of work – but all sound fantastic, together and individually.
Central New Yorkers can view Coco for free at 1 p.m. Monday, April 23, in the Liverpool Public Library’s Carman Community Room.
i’m really looking forward to seeing this one, and you’ve made me even more excited. i saw ‘book of life’ not too long ago, with a somewhat similar focus, and i really enjoyed it. p.s. ann arbor is so hopped up about the game tonight and i can’t wait! go blue!
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You will love this movie, Beth. And, well, great season for your Wolverines no doubt.
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I absolutely adored this movie!
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You have good taste, MBC.
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Why thank you MBM 🙂
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It also makes me appreciate the Mexican holiday known as Dia de Muertos … a special day to remember ancestors that have passed and celebrate family, a very sweet concept. This was my pick for the best film of 2017!
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Thanks for dropping in and letting us know about our selection for best film of 2017, Miguel.
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People should be intrigued by this film. (although close to Book of Life, 2014) Great art work. The memory and music are so important in research now.
May take some a bit for some to get comfortable and up to speed with the culture. (and for people to stop complaining that one from one ethnic group./race shouldn’t be making films/music featuring a different culture. )
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It is quite a sight and sound to behold, Phil, you are so right.
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Haven’t seen but on my List. Only heard good things. And an Oscar to boot. What did you think of the Oscars this year?
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You should enjoy it, Liz, I think! Oscars tried hard.
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