Last week I had the chance to attend the red carpet Disney*Pixar COCO premiere in Hollywood. Thanks to an invitation from Disney to head out on this all-expense paid trip, I was able to not only interview the cast, but watch the movie. Today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the film, answering some questions you might have, and sharing my Coco Movie Review – NO SPOILERS!
COCO Movie Review
I knew this movie would get to me after watching the trailers.
I knew to pack extra tissues in a small handbag where I didn’t have much extra room. It was a necessity I thought. I wasn’t wrong.
ABOUT COCO
Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.
A Few Words – No Spoilers and Why
There are few stories in this world that surprise you, take you to a place you didn’t know. COCO is one of those stories.
It’s incredibly well-written, filled with humor, love, humanity, and family. BUT it’s so special a story, that I will not spoil it for you.
I want you to walk the path that Miguel walks when he “visits” the Land of the Dead. But I do know that parents will have some questions because of words like “Land of the Dead” and skeletons as characters, so I will talk you through any concerns.
Is COCO appropriate for young kids -scary?
In a movie with skeletons, this might be the first question from parents.
Rest assured that Disney tackled this issue head-on and did everything to make sure kids would not be scared. That said, make sure your kids have seen the trailer (it’s all over television right now too, so they likely have seen it). You will know from the trailer whether the skeletons will scare them. I can’t imagine they will, as Disney really did a great job.
You see, though the skeletons are obviously dead, they are dressed in clothes (makeup and mustaches too), are incredibly funny (yes, every last one of them), and continue to make us laugh throughout the movie. If anything, these skeletons make death less scary as each skeleton is a version of who they were in life. So you’ll see Miguel’s family who have already passed, aunts, uncles, etc.
Death is sometimes a difficult topic to discuss with children. My daughter has grown up really understanding death in a way that most kids don’t. She easily talks about it, having been born at a time when I had just lost my own mother. COCO is a movie that will help you talk about death to your kids, if you want to. It’s a great tool, one that makes kids less fearful in my opinion, because death is part of life. And that life, well, it is to be celebrated and remembered.
The central theme of the movie is really about discovering who you are, what you love, and chasing your dream.
Is COCO a religious movie? What about Dia de los Muertos?
No, COCO isn’t. And Dia de los Muertos isn’t about religion either, something I learned while researching and also talking with the creators.
Admittedly, I knew very little about this Mexican holiday (other than decorations seen in stores), so I was intrigued and curious if that would impact my experience in seeing the movie.
Dia de los Muertos is a day to remember and honor those who have gone before you. Whether child or adult, you don’t need to know anything before walking into this film, as you’ll see Miguel’s family explaining it all to him. It’s a festive occasion that is very personal. There is no wrong or right way to do it. And not all people with that heritage necessarily celebrate it the same or even at all.
While my family doesn’t celebrate Dia de los Muertos, I certainly fell in love with what I saw portrayed on screen.
Dia de los Muertos is simply the setting to an incredible adventure for one little boy.
The Music and Humor and COLOR.
The movie is incredibly funny with bits of humor packed in the middle of such a heartwarming tale. And the vibrant colors make this film one of the most visually appealing I have ever seen.
Surprisingly, COCO is a movie about life, not death, and as with all Disney*Pixar films, you will root for the good guys, despise the bad guys, and love the family despite all its faults.
No matter your culture. No matter the color of your skin. No matter your religion. You will resonate with this film and it will touch you like perhaps no movie has done before.
The Heart of COCO
It is here where I must lead you. The adventure I won’t spoil. The surprising characters I won’t divulge. But, the heart of COCO is family.
Remembering those who have gone before you, so that you know where you came from, that is at the core of this movie. That theme is one that tugs at my heartstrings perhaps a little too hard, having lost my mom. Most of you have lost someone who you hold dear to your heart. For some, they were taken when they were old and gray. Yet others, like my mom, seemingly before their time.
Either way, they left a mark on our hearts, and you will think of them while watching COCO. There is no way not to. To be remembered, something we all aspire to be one day.
Take a look…
Get Social with COCO: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the official website!
COCO opens in theatres everywhere on November 22nd!
Take a look as I walk you through my Disney*Pixar COCO premiere experience, from my dress to the celebrities spotted!
What do you think? Are you looking forward to COCO?
Have any questions for me, just let me know and I’ll try to answer them the best I can!
Hello, how is everyone doing ? I hope everybody is doing fine . I only have one question and it’s that the story that Miguel lived in the movie was it real or just a dream? Can anyone answer this question please?
Louie,
Coco is fiction and not real.
You mentioned that you do not think the movie would be scary for a young child, and there is nothing inappropriate for a young child, but would a child that recently turned 3 understand the content enough for the movie to hold her attention?
That’s a tough one to answer, as you know your kiddo best. I would think the bright color and playful characters (if she is okay with the trailers), along with the humor would keep her attention. Every kiddo is so different.
I appreciated your comment about young children and the skeletons… based on your experience, what age would you recommend to be the youngest you would take to see this movie? I ask because it was given a PG rating instead of G, so I am assuming there is a reason…
If you have taken your child to see other PG movies, I would not hesitate. For this movie, I would really say watch the trailers, and if they are okay with them, you should be fine. It’s less about age or maturity with this film as compared to other PG movies in my opinion. There is obviously discussion about death (since most characters in the movie are dead). You know your kids best, but there are no real watchouts like language, etc.
My daughter is 3.5 and terrified of anything remotely scary. I’m not sure the Skeletons would bother her as they seem nice & funny, but what about that giant roaring tiger-with-wings at 2:03 in the trailer? I feel like that might be really scary for her… Are there many parts like that?
He is not a main character, and he is a friend of Miguel’s family in the land of the dead. So if you prepare your kiddo and tell her that he is a good character, that is helpfully trying to help Miguel’s family out, maybe that would work. Only seen in a handful of scenes. I hope that helps.
I loved every second of this film. The imagery is spectacular!
So glad you got to see an early screening! It really is so visually beautiful. So glad PIXAR took so many years to make this film…they got it right!
I’m happy to know that this is a movie with heart and I can’t wait to watch it with my family! Thanks for all the tips from a mom’s perspective!
Thanks Sara! There wasn’t a dry eye in the theater, but in a good way. Bring tissues and take the family!
Thank you for the excellent background information. Seems Disney has worked its magic yet again, with COCO addressing life and its inevitable path’s end, and families that bond us together. All the while with sensitivity, insight, and keen awareness. Human emotions are truly a universal language, with humor being an all-around equalizer. Can’t wait to see COCO!
I was excited about seeing COCO but now I am even more. You’ve explained important details without any spoilers. What you’ve done is made the film even more desirable to see! Cheers for different culturals than our own and the Disney way of learning more!
Thank you Cathi! What’s so interesting too is that even though it was different for me culturally, it didn’t feel all that different because of the emotion. Emotion is the same in every culture.