Coco (2017) – 4.5 out of 5 marigolds.

Despite his family’s generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead. After meeting a charming trickster named Héctor, the two new friends embark on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

Review by Ben Dover:

“Coco” or How I Wasted Two Hours of My Life on Singing Skeletons

Listen up, you whippersnappers! I just sat through Pixar’s “Coco,” and let me tell you, it’s a real fiesta of nonsense. This movie’s about as Mexican as my Aunt Edna’s taco casserole, which is to say, it’s a gringo’s fever dream after too many margaritas.

First off, who thought it was a good idea to make a kids’ movie about death? Oh sure, let’s traumatize the little tykes with singing skeletons and floating ghost-bridges. I’m sure that won’t lead to any therapy bills down the road.

The main character, Miguel, is some guitar-plucking punk who thinks he knows better than his elders. In my day, we respected our families and didn’t go gallivanting off to the land of the dead because of some half-baked dream of becoming a mariachi Justin Bieber.

And don’t get me started on that dimwit dog, Dante. If I wanted to watch a tongue-lolling mutt stumble around for two hours, I’d visit my neighbor’s yard on a Saturday night.

Now, I’ll admit, the animation is prettier than a sunset over the Grand Canyon. But that’s like putting lipstick on a sugar skull – it’s still just a bunch of bones prancing around to Hispanic Muzak.

The music? It’s catchier than the flu at a daycare center. I found myself humming “Remember Me” in the shower this morning, and now I’m mad at myself. Thanks a lot, Pixar.

And what’s with all this “follow your dreams” hogwash? In the real world, you don’t become a famous musician by stealing some dead guy’s guitar and running away from home. You become famous by… well, I don’t know how people become famous these days. TikTok dances or something equally ridiculous, I’m sure.

Look, I’m not saying “Coco” is all bad. It’s got more heart than a cardiologist’s waiting room. The family stuff? It hit me right in the feels, not that I’d admit it to anyone but you losers reading this review. And the twist at the end? I didn’t see it coming, unlike my arthritis on a rainy day.

In conclusion, “Coco” is a colorful, musical kick in the pantalones that’ll probably make you laugh, cry, and question why you’re watching a movie about Day of the Dead instead of celebrating Arbor Day like a true American.

The entire concept of dying again once you’re forgotten paints a grim and shockingly finite picture of the afterlife, barely an epilogue, until you inevitably die alone in a ditch and disappear forever. Grim and the only reason it’s not 5 stars.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 marigolds. It’s great, but don’t tell anyone I said that. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.

Notes:

Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes
Gross worldwide: $814,641,172
Budget: $175,000,000 (estimated)

Miguel was originally only going to play guitar and not sing. When the director, Lee Unkrich, discovered Anthony Gonzalez was, in fact, a talented singer, it was decided Miguel would do both so Anthony could share this talent in the film.

Spent more days #1 at the box office than any other animated film in the 21st century.

The orange flower seen throughout the film is the Aztec marigold (known also as the Mexican marigold or the Cempasúchil). The flower is used in the tradition of Dia de los Muertos in México to guide the deceased to the living.

John Ratzenberger, long considered Pixar’s good-luck charm, continues his streak of appearing in all of the studio’s feature films. In Coco (2017), he plays a ghost called Juan Ortodoncia. He is the skeleton who can cross over to the land of the living because his dentist remembers him.

Quotes:

Miguel: I’m a pretty sorry excuse for a great-great grandpa.
Miguel: Are you kidding? Five minutes ago I thought I was related to a murderer! You’re a total upgrade!

Tío Oscar: [stares at Miguel’s face] I miss my nose…

Héctor: [singing] Remember me, though I have to say goodbye /
Remember me, don’t let it make you cry /
For even if I’m far away, I hold you in my heart /
I sing a secret song to you, each night we are apart /
Remember me, though I have to travel far /
Remember me, each time you hear a sad guitar /
Know that I’m with you, the only way that I can be /
Until you’re in my arms again, remember me…

Critics Consensus:

Critics 97% Audience 94% Rotten Tomatoes

Coco‘s rich visual pleasures are matched by a thoughtful narrative that takes a family-friendly — and deeply affecting — approach to questions of culture, family, life, and death.

Voice actors in the movie Coco include:

Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel, the film’s protagonist’
Gael García Bernal as Héctor, a charming trickster spirit
Benjamin Bratt as Ernesto de la Cruz, a famous musician and Miguel’s idol.
Alanna Ubach as Mamá Imelda, Miguel’s late great-great-grandmother’
Renée Victor as Abuelita, Coco’s daughter and Miguel’s grandmother
Ana Ofelia Murguía as Mamá Coco, Miguel’s great-grandmother

Trailer:

Photos:

AI Photos: These are obviously just for fun.