Coco

Film: Coco

Year: 2017

Director: Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina

Writer: Adrian Molina and Matthew Aldrich

Starring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal and Benjamin Bratt

Review:

This is a movie that I remember when it came out and people were talking highly of it. Jaime told me that she cried during it. She isn’t the only one to say this either. I even know some people who aren’t emotional who felt that way. It was one that I knew I would see eventually. On our honeymoon, we paid for Disney+ and decided to take advantage. It is also on our Internet Movie Database poster we are working through. We then finally convinced our daughter, Mackenzie, to give this a chance.

Synopsis: aspiring musician Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez), confronted with his family’s ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.

Narrated by Miguel, the story introduces his grandmother Coco (Ana Ofelia Murguía) and great-grandmother Mamá Imelda (Alanna Ubach). After her husband left to pursue music, Imelda banned music in the family and founded a successful shoe business. Though the rest of the family upholds this ban, Miguel secretly loves music, despite his Abuelita (Renee Victor) forbidding him from visiting the local mariachi plaza.

Miguel sees his chance though. There is a talent show coming up, but his guitar is discovered before he can go to it. His hero is Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt). He is from this area and was a famous singer who turned into an actor. He died in an accident when a bell fell on him. Miguel has a secret room with video tapes and posters of him. It is there he escapes to play music. As I was saying though, before he can get to the talent show and live his dream, he is discovered.

Miguel then decides to steal Ernesto’s guitar from his crypt. Ernesto’s mantra was to seize the moment and that is what the boy is trying to do. In the process, by stealing it he is sent to the underworld. Dia de los Muertos is coming up, so all families are celebrating their ancestors. Miguel is there and runs into Héctor (Gael García Bernal) who cannot get over the bridge. His disguise is discovered and no one is honoring him on the other side anymore.

A deal is struck for Miguel to honor him when he goes back. In exchange, Héctor will help Miguel get in front of Ernesto, thinking that they’re related. Miguel runs into his ancestors, who try to send him back, but he must give up his dream to play music for that to happen. He believes from the picture that he has of Mamá Imelda and Mamá Coco, that the ripped off head could be Ernesto. He is trying to seek him out before it is too late and Miguel is permanently a part of this world.

That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. In my opening, I relayed that there have been quite a few people that talked highly of this. Heck, it is one of the newer movies on the IMDb poster Jaime and I are working there so there is that. My first thoughts are that we have a great story here. We get a good message, incorporating lore in here that got me interested. The heart doesn’t hurt either.

Starting with the movie's message, growing up with Mexican-American babysitters taught me how family-centered the culture is, which Coco reflects. If relatives aren't remembered, they experience a final death and fade from the underworld—a fate Héctor relies on Miguel to avoid. Additionally, Miguel risks being stranded without his family's blessing, adding stakes while he uncovers hidden family history with surprising twists.

Watching this on our honeymoon in Mexico was fascinating, especially after our tour guide at Chichén Itzá explained how cenotes were thought to connect to the underworld. Incorporating this lore, alongside family traditions and spirit animals, deeply enriched the film for me as a mythology fan, echoing ancient engravings to elevate the experience.

Then themes that I didn’t include in my original review would be that this explores the dual nature of memory and mortality. That is where a lot of heart comes from when we see that everyone who remembered you, when they pass on or forget about you, you don’t exist in the other world. We see ambition and how it can be evil. This also has re-evaluating of legacy, fame and the need for forgiveness. This in turn leads to finally healing. Also the power of music.

The last bit that I wanted to go into here would be the heart here. I’ve already said that I’ve had people see this before me that stated they cried. There are even people I know that aren’t emotional seeing this movie and tearing up. Jaime wanted me to make sure that I stated here that this movie made me cry. It pulled at my heartstrings and my family used to be quite close like they are here.

Before moving on from the story, I want to address why I'm reviewing this film. Jaime asked whether I consider it horror, comparing it to animated films like The Addams Family or The Nightmare Before Christmas. Given its ghosts, hauntings, skeletons, folk horror elements, and the stakes of Miguel fading away in the underworld without his family's blessing, it functions as a solid gateway family horror movie.

Moving to voice acting, Gonzalez sings impressively and fits the young lead perfectly. Bernal brings great humor, and his character's risk of being forgotten is genuinely moving. Bratt delivers the ideal arrogance for Ernesto. Victor, Ubach, and the remaining cast perform well. I also enjoyed seeing historical figure Frida Kahlo (voiced by Natalia Cordova-Buckley), Edward James Olmos, and Mexican wrestling legend El Santo included.

Finally, the animation and soundtrack are standouts. As expected from Pixar, the vibrant visual style authenticates the setting, especially in the underworld where detailed Día de los Muertos sugar skulls add depth. Additionally, while the soundtrack isn't my usual style, it effectively captures the culture and fits the movie well.

In summary, this is a vibrant and deeply emotional film that excels in its storytelling, visual animation, and memorable soundtrack. By weaving together rich Mexican cultural traditions, high-stakes family dynamics, and subtle gateway horror elements with a touching message about memory and legacy, it delivers a powerful experience that fully earns its high praise.

My Rating: 8 out of 10